Smithsonian Folkways to release rare Louis Armstrong recordings.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
On April 24th, 2012, Smithsonian Folkways will release ?Satchmo at the National Press Club: Red Beans and Rice-ly Yours,? a recording of one of jazz legend Louis Armstrong?s last concerts.
11/04/2012
We have received the following press release from Smithsonian Folkways relating to these soon to be available archive recordings;
Greetings from Smithsonian Folkways!
On April 24th, 2012, Smithsonian Folkways will release ?Satchmo at the National Press Club: Red Beans and Rice-ly Yours,? a recording of one of jazz legend Louis Armstrong’s last concerts, performed only five months before his death. As a bonus, the liner notes of the album include sixteen pages of Armstrong’s favorite Louisianan recipes. More details can be found in the press release below, and the story has been picked up by The New York Times, The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times.
SMITHSONIAN FOLKWAYS RECORDINGS TO RELEASE ONE OF LOUIS ARMSTRONG’S LAST PERFORMANCES, ?SATCHMO AT THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB: RED BEANS AND RICE-LY YOURS,’ ON APRIL 24
Rarely-Heard Recording Includes Original Cookbook of Louis’ Most-Loved Recipes
Jazz icon Louis Armstrong, always the consummate entertainer, turned a 1971 award ceremony at the National Press Club in Washington DC into an impromptu performance ?despite recent poor health. It was one of his last concerts before he passed away 5 months later. Joined by longtime band-mates Tyree Glenn and Tommy Gwaltney, Armstrong shows no signs of frailty while singing, and to everyone’s surprise, playing trumpet on classics including ?Mack the Knife? and ?Rocking Chair.? The recording, originally a limited vinyl release by the National Press Club in 1972, will be available widely for the first time via Smithsonian Folkways Recordings on April 24th as part of the Smithsonian’s celebration of the 11th annual Jazz Appreciation Month. Armstrong often signed letters ?Red Beans and Rice-ly Yours,? which makes for an apt title for the recording especially since his favorite recipes ― everything from Louisiana Caviar to the Sazerac ― are included in the liner notes, as they were in the original pressing.
The second half of the album finds Tyree Glenn and his band back at the National Press Club paying tribute to Louis shortly after his passing.
Smithsonian Folkways will make the album available digitally (stream and download) for the first time while offering physical versions in print as on-demand CDs (with digital liner notes) available from folkways.si.edu.
The release will be commemorated with a ceremony and concert on Friday, April 27th, at the National Press Club. The event will begin at 2:30 p.m. and will consist of a press conference featuring officials from Smithsonian Folkways, the National Press Club, and the Louis Armstrong Foundation and a discussion with Q&A with musical experts. A reception will follow with the album played in its entirety. Journalists who wish to arrange an interview with the officials from the organizations involved in the project may contact Bill McCarren from the National Press Club at 202-662-7534.
?Satchmo at the National Press Club: Red Beans and Rice-ly Yours’
11 tracks, 58 minutes:
1971 Press Club Concert featuring Louis Armstrong
1. Introductions (When It’s Sleepy Time Down South)
2. Hello Dolly
3. Rockin’ Chair
4. Boy from New Orleans
5. Mack the Knife
Tribute concert to Louis Armstrong featuring Tyree Glenn and Tommy Gwaltney
6. Royal Garden Blues
7. Mood Indigo
8. A Kiss to Build a Dream On
9. Love For Sale
10. It’s Alright with Me
11. Crazy Rhythm
http://shorefire.com/clients/folkways/
NOTE: Smithsonian Folkways Recordings retail distribution is through ADA (Alternative Distribution Alliance) at 800.239.3232. Smithsonian Folkways Recordings releases are available through record and book outlets. Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, as well as the original Folkways, Cook, Dyer-Bennet, Monitor, Paredon, Collector and Fast Folk collections, are available via mail order at 1.888.FOLKWAYS or 800.410.9815 and via the Internet. Visit the Smithsonian Folkways Recordings website at