WASHINGTON – A live recording of Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong playing his trumpet for one of the last times is being released to the public for the first time.
On Jan., 29, 1971, Armstrong was a featured performer at the National Press Club in Washington, celebrating the inauguration of fellow Louisiana native Vernon Louviere as the club’s president. On Friday, Armstrong’s performance was played back in the same place for musicians, historians and some who were there for the original performance.
The new album is called “Red Beans and Rice-ly Yours: Satchmo at the National Press Club.”
The performance was Armstrong’s goodbye in many ways. It was the last recording made of him performing live that was meant to be played back some day.
He felt strong enough, though, to make a comeback with a few short performances in Las Vegas and then in Washington. That’s when he surprised the crowd by pulling out his trumpet for tunes like “Hello Dolly.” Armstrong died less than six months later on July 6, 1971. AP
