Music help neeeded!

[Cobblers]

I picked up a Nat Gonella LP a few weeks ago and can't stop playing it. I'm pretty new to this kind of stuff, always having a cursory interest, and I wondered if anyone can help me to expand my collection with some suitable recommendations of other bands/artists in the same kinda direction.

I've made a couple of exploratory purchases since with no joy so I hoped you good good people could help.

Got to say 'Black Coffee' is wonderful!

Thanks

 

[Snookie]

I'd never heard of Nat Gonella before, but I like his style! From the clips I listened to on iTunes, it sounds like he's into the New Orleans small band jazz. Wikipedia says that Louis Armstrong was one of his heroes, I definitely hear that.

Louis Armstrong is great, but most of the older recordings have poor sound quality.

This is one of my favorite albums: Doc Cheatham & Nicolas Payton

Nat mostly plays standards, try searching some of his titles (Georgia on My Mind, Stormy Weather, Stardust, etc) and seeing who else recorded them. I really love iTunes, I like to hear the clips before I buy.

Here's some other famous small bands, most are light on the vocals:
Django Reinhart
The Benny Goodman Sextet (that means 6 players!)
Artie Shaw & his Gramercy Five

 

[Cobblers]

That's a great link Snookie, thanks.

I'll do some googling on the others ans see what pops up. I'm already a fan of Django, funnily enough my curiosity was aroused after seeing 'Sweet and Lowdown' a few years ago.

Thanks again.

 

[Cobblers]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDIsJ6eraPU

A Nat Gonella link.... The tune that kicks in at 37 seconds is pretty much what it's all about for me!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeW0aOMDulw&feature=related I could listen to this on a constant loop!

 

[Viper Man]

If you are into "Armstrong" inspired trumpeters and like small group stuff, check out Ruby Braff. Personally, I prefer his earlier stuff. Search out the album "Braff!" on Columbia. It was issued on CD and is currently deleted but still available on the used market.

Another great trumpeter from NOLA is Henry "Red" Allen. He did some fantastic work with Coleman Hawkins in the 50s. Look for the CD, "World on a String" from RCA/Victor.

 

[Fletch]

Louis Armstrong is great, but most of the older recordings have poor sound quality.

Not for the day though. Pops recorded for OKeh when they used the Western Electric system, the absolute state of the art at the time - altho he didn't do any dates in New York, where OKeh and their parent Columbia had the best studio setup. Those dates - Ellington, Bix, Red Nichols et al - sound really incredible.

(I know of certain public radio stations, btw, where the rule of thumb is no more than one or two pre-hi-fi recordings per hour. Otherwise they get calls asking what's wrong with their signal! [huh])