In conjunction with the release of
Ken Burns
' ten-part, 19-hour epic
PBS
documentary
Jazz
,
Columbia
issued 22 single-disc compilations devoted to jazz's most significant artists, as well as a five-disc historical summary. Since the individual compilations attempt to present balanced overviews of each artist's career, tracks from multiple labels have thankfully been licensed where appropriate.
Louis Armstrong
is arguably the most important figure in jazz history -- he was jazz's first real virtuoso and first true improviser; he invented scat singing; and his gravelly, instantly recognizable voice and larger-than-life personality made him a crucial force in popularizing the music. Over the course of 25 tracks, this installment of
Ken Burns Jazz
traces
Armstrong
's career from his seminal early sides up through his pop hits of the '50s and early '60s. The set opens with selections from his recordings with the
Hot Fives
and
Hot Sevens
, some of the most celebrated in jazz thanks to
's jubilant, impeccably constructed solos. His later pop material isn't as interesting to some jazz purists -- especially since it doesn't always emphasize his instrumental work -- but it went a long way toward cementing
's status as an icon among the general public and is full of his warmly ingratiating personality.
features the best of the best from both distinct phases of
's career, and while there are more extensive (and cohesive) compilations of each, this makes for an extremely strong introduction to one of the greatest figures in American music. ~ Steve Huey