6. Louis Armstrong and his Hot Seven, “Potato Head Blues”

(Louis Armstrong)

For use with Lesson #4.

 

Style: Classic New Orleans

Personnel: Louis Armstrong cornet, Johnny Dodds clarinet, John Thomas trombone, Lil Hardin Armstrong piano, Johnny St. Cyr banjo, Pete Briggs tuba, Warren “Baby” Dodds drums. Recorded in 1927.

Issued on Okeh 8503.

Reissued on Columbia CK 44253, 86539 and CK 61440, and Sony Music 8869794562 Disc 2.

Armstrong’s genius could not be contained in King Oliver’s ensemble for long. His “Hot Five” and “Hot Seven” recordings propelled him to the top, and ushered in an emphasis on the jazz soloist. “Potato Head Blues” is universally regarded as one of Armstrong’s finest moments. It is instructive to compare the rhythmic phrasing in the clarinet and cornet solos. Dodds displays a rhythmic feel that is close to straight-eighth in places, while Armstrong is nudging the pulse towards the triplet feel that would take root in the swing era. Armstrong’s landmark solo employs such devices as “shuttlecocking” (2:06), shakes (e.g. 2:14), and rips (to the cornet’s high B at 2:27 and to high D at 2:35).

Sequence for this track

0:00 Chorus: ensemble (cornet break at the end)

0:44 Verse: cornet solo

1:06 Chorus: clarinet solo (with breaks)

1:49 Banjo interlude (4 bars)

1:54 Chorus: cornet solo (stoptime)

2:37 Half chorus: ensemble (cornet break at end)

Louis Armstrong and his Hot Five