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Critic's Review
Al Campbell, All Music Guide
Reissued together for the first time on CD, Louis Armstrong's Complete New York Town Hall & Boston Symphony Hall Concerts provides an enjoyable and complete presentation of Satchmo and the All-Stars. On May 17, 1947, Armstrong took the Town Hall stage alongside trombonist Jack Teagarden, clarinetist Peanuts Hucko, cornetist Bobby Hackett, pianist Dick Cary, bassist Bob Haggart, and Big Sid Catlett on drums. That set was so enthusiastically received that Armstrong broke up his longtime big band in order to continue on with the All-Stars. The concert at Symphony Hall took place four months later, on November 30, 1947, with a change in personnel given the addition of clarinetist Barney Bigard, pianist Dick Cary, and bassist Arvell Shaw with the remaining Teagarden and Catlett. Armstrong would continue to showcase the All-Stars into the early '50s, but wouldn't achieve the level of inspiration as demonstrated on these two historic concerts.
