On January 29th, 1971, five months before his death. Louis Armstrong was at the Inauguration of then incoming National Press Club President Vernon Louviere, a fellow native of New Orleans. State of the art taping equipment was used and the mini-set was recorded and 300 copies of what is Armstrongs final performance trumpet were given away to members of the NPC. There was an appearance on Carson and Dick Cavett after this, but for all intents and purposes this was it.
Forty odd years later, some bright spark realized maybe other people might be interested in listening to it and an album Satchmo at the National Press Club: Red Beans and Rice-ly Yours (a reference to the way Armstrong used to sign his letters) . There isn't that much, a handful of songs, but they are all great, and, indeed, the "Hello Dolly" is better than just about any performance I've heard.
Most importantly, he amusingly writes his bio in a handful of words, "You were very kind to Satchmo, just a boy from New Orleans… handsome too". There are four songs, "Hello Dolly", "Rockin' Chair", "Boy From New Orleans" and "Mack The Knife" as well as possibly the mini-set highlight, the opening "When Its Sleepy time Down South". David Frost is introducing Armstrong and as Frost is speaking, Armstrong begins the opening refrain of the song, slowly playing over Frost. It is a beautiful welcoming sound, truly a kiss of sound to build a dream on and Louis, who hadn't played trumpet in a year, is just perfection.
A year later, trombonist Tyree Glenn and Tommy Gwaltney played a tribute for Armstrong, and it is very pleasant, but their six songs, except maybe Tyree's tender impersonation of Satch on "A Kiss To Build A Dream" are not why we are here.
But we are not here to pay tribute either, these are fine, more than fine versions, by a rejuvenated Armstrong and not a swan song, or a last gasp. The man was incomparable.
Grade: A