Long Gone

#43: Louis Armstrong Plays W.C. Handy: Louis Armstrong. Louis Armstrong was a jazz musician like no other, with soaring melodies and that famous gravelly voice. It's hard to pick a classic CD - for one, he has so many, for two, his early stuff is often of poor recording quality and the songs are short and fast, for three, his late stuff is dominated by easy-listening crooners that make you want to just sit in a rockin' chair and take a nap. This CD is the perfect combo of great songs, transcendent trumpet playing and that great Satchmo persona. Plus it has been remastered and sounds great. Try not to smile when listening to this one.