Review by Booklist Review
The one twentieth-century figure who is as much an icon of America as Washington and Lincoln is Louis Armstrong. He embodied the rags-to-riches American dream, and just as in that dream's fondest conceit, riches--not to mention worldwide renown--didn't change him. He remained a down-to-earth, everyday guy, who just happened to alter the character of popular music. Nothing in Bradbury's compact life contradicts that interpretation or exaggerates Armstrong in any way. To verify the hype about him, listen to his recordings, starting with those he cut playing second cornet tooe Oliver's lead in the Creoleazz Band. His lyrical open horn resounds through 80 years of acoustical haze, and it resounded yet more forcefully and originally in the succeeding groups he led on the more assertive trumpet. Treating other biographical details briskly, Bradbury focuses on notable recordings during the period each chapter covers, and most of the numerous sidebars, printed in red, cover particulars of Armstrong's musicianship and his principal musical associates. An excellent starter biography and listening companion. --Ray Olson Copyright 2004 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Booklist Review
