Louis “Pops” Armstrong on the French Odeon label.  Saint Louis blues / Mahogany Hall Stomp // After You’ve Gone / I Can’t Give You Anything But Love  (1954).  Louis was both pure joyful entertainment and the highest level of artistry.  For five decades he was an American ambassador around the world for the music he helped create.  In and out of style, he remained true to himself through the worst Jim Crow racism and blew down barriers with his genius.  Good to go back and listen still!

(16 votes, average: 3.94 out of 5)

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Jazz Collaborations (1955)  Charles Mingus and Thad Jones  Debut Records (Sweden)  Featuring “One More”; “I Can’t Get Started”; “More of the Same”; and “Get Out of Town”.   Also featuring John Dennis/Hank Jones on Piano; and Max Roach on Drums.  Rudy Van Gelder – Engineer;  Barry Ulanov – Liner Notes.

(29 votes, average: 3.86 out of 5)

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Jailhouse Jazzmen  .. Storyville City Jail – File No: SEP 358  ( (1958)  Abbi Hübner, Claus Jürgen Möller, Klaus Geldmacher, Mihai Ampoițan, Tommy Ladnier)   Storyville Records (Sweden)

(30 votes, average: 3.63 out of 5)

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Les Modes   “Mood in Scarlet”  Dawn Records  Julius Watkins (frh), Charlie Rouse (ts), Gildo Mahones (p), Martin Rivera (b), Ron Jefferson (b), Chano Pozo (bgos)

(34 votes, average: 4.18 out of 5)

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“I (heart) Art Blakey”  “Tough!”  Chess Records (Netherlands)  Recorded in 1957 and first issued in 1966 in the US on Cadet Records …

With Jackie McClean, Bill Hardman, Sam Dockery and Spanky De Brest as Messengers.

(26 votes, average: 4.23 out of 5)

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“Porgy and Bess”  Oscar Peterson Trio  Verve Records  (Sweden)

(28 votes, average: 3.82 out of 5)

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Here’s a super rare one – Tommy Flanagan’s “Over C’s”  Prestige Records (1957)  It was Flanagan’s debut album as a leader, and was recorded overseas, in Stockholm, and issued on 3 EPs in Sweden, on Metronome.   Those EPs are also highly collectible.  The trio is rounded out with Wilbur Little and Elvin Jones.  Here’s Willow Weep For Me!

(24 votes, average: 3.38 out of 5)

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Louis Armstrong  “White Christmas” / “Winter Wonderland”  Decca Records  (UK)

(34 votes, average: 3.85 out of 5)

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Mann In the Morning  Herbie Mann on Flute and Tenor Sax  Prestige Records (1958)  Recorded in Stockholm in 1956 with a group of the top Swedish players of the day.  (More notes from the prolific Mr. Gitler)

(24 votes, average: 4.04 out of 5)

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“Great Scott”  The Bobby Scott Trio featuring Whitey Mitchell, bass and Bill Bradley, drums  Bethlehem Records (1954)  Design and illustration (in the style of David Stone Martin) by the legendary Burt Goldblatt.  Liner notes by the great Ira Gitler ,(whom I’ve had the pleasure to meet and spend time with over the past 25 years).  I love that after looking at records for more than 40 years (daily), that I can still find one like this that I’ve never seen!

(27 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)

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