Midnight Miles
When Miles Davis assembled the first of his legendary quartets for a residence at Cafe Bohemia in New York's Greenwich Village in the fall of 1955, the trumpeter stood at a career crossroads. Though...
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West End Blues
  The Kingdom of Swing starts here and belongs to Louis Armstrong. His unaccompanied introduction is the fanfare that announces--in a devastating display--that a new wondrous world of music has been perfected. It is all accomplished in 12 seconds."West End Blues" is a piece by the "second" Hot Five. The Hot Fives and Seven recordings, while seminal Armstrong works, are often misperceived. They were both studio-only units which didn't reflect Armstrong's live performances, as he played in public with big bands. Furthermore, the Hot Seven recorded for but a single week during the three years of "Hot" combo sessions. And the two names for three combos also hides the fact that there were two distinct Hot Fives. The second--Louis Armstrong & His Hot Five--includes a sixth instrument: drums. They are played by Zutty Singleton, and this second group features an entirely different personnel roster, highlighted by piano genius Earl "Fatha" Hines.

(C. Williams/K. Oliver); Louis Armstrong, trumpet, vocal; Earl Hines, piano; Fred Robinson, trombone; Jimmy Strong, clarinet; Mancy Carr, banjo; Zutty Singleton, drums. Solos: Armstrong (trumpet); Robinson; Armstrong (vocal) & Strong; Hines; Armstrong (trumpet); Rec. Chicago, June 28, 1928. Okeh 8597 (mx. W 400967-B); Originally Released 1928