Louis Armstrong Companion: Eight Decades of Commentary

Everybody knows Louis Armstrong the brilliant musician and singer. This book provides a glimpse into his literary world--uncensored and unencumbered by editing (as his autobiographies were). Pops'writing was stream of thought filled with "hep cat" jargon, but richly expressive and revealing deep contemplation of the world and his place in it. He reflects on sex, drugs, the mob, and bebop, with doses of how to keep your colon clean. Underneath the humor, pulses a strong realistic view of the world. This is a fantastic introduction to a deeper Armstrong. And as if his own material was not enough, there is an excellent selection of critiques, interviews(including Barney Bigard and Mezz Mezzrow), and modern perspectives on the man(not to be missed is the editor's selection on opera and Armstrong). A wonderful job!!