Compiled and notated by the eminent broadcaster and writer Mike Pointon, this is the fifth in our highly acclaimed Portrait series. This is the first CD to trace the background to the touring band that sustained Armstrong"s world-wide fame. 21 tracks covering 75 minutes of glorious music from the one and only Sachmo. To paraphrase Alistair Cooke - "Louis Armstrong is dead - I don"t have to believe it if I don"t want to." Tracks 1-3 Carnegie Hall February 1947 Louis Armstrong with Edmond Hall and his Cafe Society Uptown Orchestra. Louis Armstrong trumpet, vocals - Mouse Randolph trumpet - Henderson Chambers trombone - Edmond Hall clarinet - Charles Bateman piano - Johnny Williams bass, vocals - Jimmy Crawford drums. Tracks 4-7 Town Hall, New York May 1947. Louis Armstrong - Dick Cary piano - Bob Haggart bass - Sidney Catlett drums. Tracks 8-12 Winter Garden Theatre, New York June 1947. Louis Armstrong - Bobby Hackett cornet - Jack Teagarden trombone - Peanuts Hucko clarinet, tenor sax - Ernie Caceras baritone and bass sax - Dick Cary piano - Jack Lesberg bass - George Wetting or Sidney Catlett drums. Tracks 13-14 Los Angeles August 1947. Louis Armstrong - Tommy Dorsey trombone - Benny Goodman clarinet - Charlie Barnet alto sax - Lionel Hampton vibes - Mel Powell piano - Al Hendrickson guitar - Harry Babasin bass - Louis Bellson drums. Track 15 Paris March 1948Louis Armstrong and the All Stars. Louis Armstrong - Jack Teagarden - Barney Bigard clarinet - Earl Hines piano - Arvell Shaw bass - Sidney Caltlett. Tracks 16-18 New York September 1949 NBC TV, Eddie Condon Floor Show. Louis Armstrong - Bobby Hackett - Jack Teagarden - Peanuts Hucko - Ernie Cacares - Joe Bushkin piano - Eddie Condon - Jack Lesberg - George Wetting. Track 19 New York, September 1949 Louis Armstrong - Jack Teagarden - Joe Bushkin - Eddie Condon - Arvell Shaw - George Wetting. Track 20 New York June 1949 NBC TV Eddie Condon Floor Show. Louis Armstrong - Jack teagarden - Peanuts Hucko - Ernie Cacares - Joe Bushkin - Jack Lesberg - Sidney Cattlett. Track 21 New York March 1949 Louis Armstrong and the All Stars. Louis Armstrong - Trummy Young trombone - Barney Bigard clarinet - Bud Freeman tenor sax - Billy Kyle piano - Arvell Shaw - Kenny John drums