Six Minutes With Satch: Dinah / Tiger Rag

Today's songs, "Dinah" and "Tiger Rag" are best known today through their filmed versions from Copenhagen in 1933. But not only did Armstrong commit them to shellac 3 1/2 years earlier on May 4, 1930, contemporary reviews of his live performances in the spring of 1930 illustrate that both songs were definitely part of his act by the time he got to the studio.

Thus, once more, we can thank OKeh Records for preserving what Louis was doing on a nightly basis in this period, with Willie Lynch's Cocoanut Grove Orchestra, as heard on the recording, but also with a number of pick-up bands, such as Zack Whyte's and others. Both songs were already on the older side, so Tommy Rockwell wasn't looking for Louis to put his imprint on the latest pop hits, a la "Exactly Like You," but instead threw him a bone to record two of his most scintillating trumpet features.

Though "Dinah" has one helluva vocal, too, another that must have made quite an impression on young Louis Prima, not to mention Bing Crosby, who "borrowed" some Armstrong's phrasing on his later version with the Mills Brothers. But the trumpet playing is the main event of each side and Louis does not disappoint, not only illustrating his ability to construct exciting, multiple-chorus solos, but he also flaunts his prowess for quoting other songs in his improvisations. Many of the tunes he sticks in on these sides also became part of the jazz lexicon.

Interestingly, this was Louis Armstrong's final race record, OKeh 8800. Rockwell had been experimenting for over a year and as was his trend, he saved a pair of wild trumpet features for the black community. But Louis's history of race records was over; he was now a full-time pop star.

LOUIS ARMSTRONG AND HIS ORCHESTRA
Louis Armstrong (tp, voc), Ed Anderson (tp), Henry Hicks (tb), Bobby Holmes (cl, as), Theodore McCord (as), Castor McCord (ts), Joe Turner (p), Bernard Addison (g), Lavert Hutchinson (tu), Willie Lynch (d).
OKeh recording session - New York City, NY May 4, 1930





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