As 1928 drew to a close, Louis Armstrong had recorded his last session with his famed Hot Five – thus ending one of the most influential and pioneering sprees of recorded jazz in history. The new year also saw Louis move from Chicago – where he had built a name for himself after leaving the Fletcher Henderson band in 1925 – back to New York City, where a new chapter of his career would unfold.
In March of 1929, he recorded two songs during an Okeh session with Luis Russell and members of Russell’s excellent orchestra. Though the performers numbered nine in total, they were credited as “Louis Armstrong & His Savoy Ballroom Five”. One of the songs was this recording of “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love” – a popular show tune which was only a year old at that point and had been recorded by many others throughout the year.
In his book on Louis Armstrong, French jazz critic Hugues Panassié writes that this song “is one of Louis Armstrong’s most celebrated recordings. Except for the second half of the first chorus played by Higginbotham on trombone, Louis solos all the time, while in the background the saxophone section softly states the theme. This uninterrupted statement of the theme behind the trumpet and vocal gives one a chance to realize easily the richness of Louis’ invention in his variations as when, for instance, his attack on some of his phrases is held back as late as possible, thus creating a strong tension. Louis plays the first half of the first chorus with a mute, sings the whole of the second, and without mute plays with terrific power in the third, ending by a progressive ascension up to high F.”
I’d also add that Louis’ vocals during this recording are quite remarkable. They start off earnest and plaintive, then he begins to scat and improvise over the melody – giving the vocals a decidedly instrumental feel. While his famous scatted verse on 1926’s “Heebie Jeebies” made this technique well-known, here we hear a more refined version that makes the vocal line decidedly his own.
Recorded in New York City on March 5, 1929.
Released as Okeh 8669.
Credits:
Louis Armstrong – trumpet, vocals
J. C. Higginbotham – trombone
Albert Nicholas, Charlie Holmes – alto sax
Teddy Hill – tenor sax
Luis Russell – piano
Eddie Condon – banjo
Pops Foster – string bass
Paul Barbarin – drums
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