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Louis Armstrong House Celebrates Jazz Appreciation Month, April 2013

Louis Armstrong House Museum is celebrating Jazz Appreciation month in style this April. 85 years ago, Louis Armstrong recorded one of his all-time masterpieces, "West End Blues," one of the most important records in jazz history. For Jazz Appreciation Month, the Museum's historic house tours will feature an ultra rare recording of Louis Armstrong performing "West End Blues" live at Freedomland in 1961. This performance was recently donated to the Museum's Archives by the son of Freedomland sound engineer Peter Denis. Previously unissued and not in any discographies, it will be featured only during Jazz Appreciation Month! This recording compliments the Museum's current exhibit, Louis Armstrong at Freedomland that closes April 30, 2012.

And if that wasn't reason enough to visit the Museum this April, three incredibly rare CDs from the late Gösta Hägglöf's "Ambassador Records" label of Sweden are only available for sale in the Museum's gift shop beginning April 2nd. These three volumes, beautifully remastered, of Louis Armstrong's 1940s and 1950s Decca recordings are available exclusively at the Museum. (Sorry mail order is not available.)

These gems are:

Because of You 1950-1953: A collection of Louis Armstrong's best-loved pop singles including "A Kiss to Build a Dream On," "La Vie En Rose" and "I Get Ideas," as well as duets with other legends such as Bing Crosby, Louis Jordan and Ella Fitzgerald.

Heavenly Music 1949-1957: A compilation of some of Louis Armstrong's most beautiful performances, including many arrangements by Gordon Jenkins ("Blueberry Hill," "That Lucky Old Sun," "When It's Sleepy Time Down South") plus the entire rare 1957 album, Louis and the Angels.

Moments to Remember 1952-1956: This disc collects some of Louis's most rare recordings of the 1950s, including his 1953 date with "The Commanders," duets with Gary Crosby and a session of Benny Carter arrangements including Louis's cover of The Platters' "Only You."

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