Gordon Au - Armstrong All-Stars Tribute

Gordon Au presents a tribute to
Louis Armstrong & His All-Stars
—
Live at Lindy Focus XVIII, December 28, 2019
*YouTube Playlist*

Announcement: this show will now be made into an album! All pre-order profits will go directly to the musicians, to help support them during this time without gigs and income. Pre-orders are live now at:

gordonau.bandcamp.com/album/tribute-to-louis-armstrong-his-all-stars-live-at-lindy-focus

artwork inspired by the show
“Tribute to Louis Armstrong”
by Conan Zhao (website)

“At one of the late nights of Lindy Focus XVIII (circa 2019, Ashville, NC), trumpeter Gordon Au does a touching tribute to Louis Armstrong’s impact [on] American music, and his uncompromising integrity to promote racial equality and social justice. Lindy Hop, one of my favorite pasttimes, is a legacy of the African American culture. More than the dance itself, acknowledging and celebrating the invaluable influence that the African-American community has contributed to the American life, art, music, culture, and society, are the true gifts a dancer like myself can realize through Lindy Hop.”

DANCE PERFORMANCES

[0. Cross Your Heart (*VIDEO*)]
(James Hanley; Arrangement: Michael Gamble)
Based on Artie Shaw and His Gramercy Five

1. Squeeze Me (*VIDEO*)
Fats Waller, 1925; Adaptation/Arrangement: Gordon Au
Based on Satch Plays Fats, 1955 in New York (Youtu.be/KoJA951jDYc)

2. All That Meat and No Potatoes (*VIDEO*)
Fats Waller, 1941; Adaptation/Arrangement: Gordon Au
Based on Satch Plays Fats, 1955 in New York (Youtu.be/ZjvdCeAUX0s)

SET 1

1. Twelfth Street Rag
Euday Bowman, 1914; Adaptation/Arrangement: Gordon Au
Based on Ambassador Satch, 1956 in Los Angeles (Youtu.be/-4FnJ9xIEOM)

2. I’ll Walk Alone
Music: Jule Styne / Lyrics: Sammy Cahn, 1944; Adaptation/Arrangement: Gordon Au
Based on Louis Armtrong and His Orchestra [actually the All-Stars], 1952 in Denver (Youtu.be/PuWvokCRIQE?t=1)

3. Back o’Town Blues
Louis Armstrong & Luis Russell, 1923; Adaptation/Arrangement: Gordon Au
Based on The California Concerts, 1955 in Los Angeles (Youtu.be/H-Q3ykg-hc0?t=1)

4. Blueberry Hill
Rose–Stock–Lewis, 1940; Arrangement: Gordon Au
Based on various performances by the All-Stars

5. Faithful Hussar
Unknown, 1781; Adaptation/Arrangement: Gordon Au
Based on Ambassador Satch, 1955 in Milan (Youtu.be/w62je-HW8PQ?t=589)

6. Stars Fell on Alabama
Music: Frank Perkins / Lyrics: Mitchell Parish, 1934; Arrangement: Gordon Au
Based loosely on 1947 in Boston (Youtu.be/I2wONNJWAzU)

7. Someday You’ll be Sorry
Louis Armstrong, 1947; Adaptation/Arrangement: Gordon Au
Based on 1947 in New York (Youtu.be/EKadxfIOS78)

8. Unless
Music: Evans–Tilsley / Lyrics: Hargreaves–Damerell, 1934; Adaptation/Arrangement: Gordon Au
Based on 1951 in Los Angeles (Youtu.be/80Uc1XRsxrQ)

(9. Moonlight Serenade [skipped])
Glenn Miller, 1939; Arrangement: Gordon Au
Original arrangement

10. My Bucket’s Got a Hole in It (*AUDIO*)
Unknown, before 1906 (© Clarence Williams, 1933); Adaptation/Arrangement: Gordon Au
Based on 1955 in Los Angeles (Youtu.be/O0pSHxwSrv8?t=9)

SET 2

1. Beale St. Blues
WC Handy, 1917; Arrangement: Gordon Au
Original arrangement

2. Lovely Weather We’re Having
Bushkin–DeVries, 1947; Adaptation/Arrangement: Gordon Au
Based on 1947 in Chicago (Youtu.be/a15l-cXKAao)

3. C’est Si Bon (*AUDIO*)
Music: Henri Betti, 1947; Adaptation/Arrangement: Gordon Au
(Lyrics: André Hornez, 1949; English Lyrics: Jerry Seelen, 1949)
Based on 1955 in Los Angeles (Youtu.be/Ut2-D3sX7H4)
and with Sy Oliver’s Orchestra, 1950 in New York (Youtu.be/TVUzJ9i-OEY)

4. Yellow Dog Blues
WC Handy, 1915 and 1919; Adaptation/Arrangement: Gordon Au
Based on Louis Armstrong Plays WC Handy, 1954 in Chicago (Youtu.be/vjUFcqBEDVA)

5. Black and Blue
Fats Waller, 1929; Adaptation/Arrangement: Gordon Au
Based on Satch Plays Fats, 1955 in New York (Youtu.be/jlgX-Lqj-w8?t=1)

6. Don’t Fence Me In
Music: Cole Porter / Lyrics: Porter–Fletcher, 1934; Adaptation/Arrangement: Gordon Au
Based on 1955 in Los Angeles (Youtu.be/7aK9LSBfSMQ?t=11)

7. You’re the Apple of My Eye
Lewis–Hart–Fox, 1951; Adaptation/Arrangement: Gordon Au
Based on 1951 in Los Angeles (Youtu.be/uffQhAQEbOk)

8. Saint Louis Blues
WC Handy, 1914; Adaptation/Arrangement: Gordon Au
Based on Louis Armstrong Plays WC Handy, 1954 in Chicago (Youtu.be/rXi6lPurG_k?t=3)

9. Keepin’ Out of Mischief Now
Music: Fats Waller / Lyrics: Andy Razaf, 1932; Adaptation/Arrangement: Gordon Au
Based loosely on Satch Plays Fats, 1955 in New York (Youtu.be/UbWyF43XuE0)

PERSONNEL

Bandleader, Trumpet: Gordon Au
Vocals: Laura Windley (website)
Vocals, Trumpet: Jim Ziegler (website)
Soprano Sax, Clarinet: Keenan McKenzie (website)
Clarinet: Jacob Zimmerman (website)
Trombone: Lucian Cobb (website)
Guitar: Jonathan Stout (website)
Piano: Chris Dawson (website)
Bass: Jen Hodge (website)
Drums: Josh Collazo (website)
Recorded by: Rob Moreland, James Bianco

Thanks to Michael Gamble and the Lindy Focus team!