Louis Armstrong’s Complete Columbia and RCA Victor Studio Recordings set for deluxe limited edition release

Renowned reissue label Mosaic Records, known for its comprehensive box sets, has announced the release of The Columbia and RCA Victor Studio Recordings of Louis Armstrong 1946-1966, a 7-CD boxed set that aims to “take listeners into the studio with Armstrong in a way never previously imaginable”. 

Released on 10 April in a limited edition of 3,500 and available exclusively from the www.mosaicrecords.com website, the set covers the period from 1946, with Armstrong still toting a big band across the country on an endless series of one-nighters), taking in the RCA Victor and Columbia, years, which saw Satch recording with Duke Ellington as well as with small groups. It was during this period that Armstrong made some of his best recordings, with George Avakian (Louis Armstrong Plays WC Handy, the Plays Fats Waller album and his covers of Kurt Weill tunes); as well as 29 recordings on RCA with small groups including the Armstrong All Stars and Jack Teagarden and Bobby Hackett; and his more politically-charged work on Dave and Iola Brubeck’s The Real Ambassadors.

The set also contains three hours’ worth of bonus and previously unissued material. All music has been sourced from the original master tapes, test pressings and metal plates for the best possible sound quality. The box booklet contains an in-depth 30,000-word essay from Armstrong biographer Ricky Riccardi, and more than 40 photos from the collections of the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation, the great majority of which have never been published before. 

Look out for a major feature on Louis Armstrong in a future issue of Jazzwise, along with a comprehensive review of this set and click here for more info