Louis Armstrong's European Tour - Fall 1949
Sergio Portaleoni contacted me regarding releases of the 10/27/49 recording, although those recordings likely date from 10/24/49 for reasons explained in the session listing.
More information may be available on the Dippermouth Blog
From: Håkan Forsberg To: Michael Minn Subject: Louis Armstrong in Italy and France 1949 Date: Wed, 21 Sep 2011 22:38:24 +0200 Hello. You have a fine website dealing with Louis Armstrong's recordings. However I happened to notice that you have some comments regarding Louis Armstrong's recordings in late October / early November 1949 that I don't quite understand. There you say that Willems book lists a private recording of a Trieste show on November 9. In my copy of All Of Me Willems lists a Trieste show for October 24 but none for November 9 (Westerberg does, however!). Furthermore I don't think there is any inconsistency in the recording dates since this is Armstrong's 1949 tour in Italy / France: OCTOBER 21 Flight from Rotterdam, The Netherlands to Milan, Italy and Milan, Italy, guest of honor at the British Institute and at the USIS in the evening. (Stratemann p. 246 & 610) OCTOBER 22 Milan, Italy, Teatro Odeon, 2 concerts, 16.00 and 21.30. (Stratemann p. 610) OCTOBER 23 Milan, Italy, Teatro Odeon, 2 concerts, 16.00 and 21.30. (Stratemann p. 610) OCTOBER 24 Trieste, Italy, Teatro Rossetti, 2 concerts, 15.45 and 21.45, and Trieste, Italy - or close by - unknown location, benefit performance for US troops. (PC Nov 19, 1949; Stratemann p. 246 & 610) (RECORDING EXISTS) OCTOBER 25 Turin, Italy, Teatro Reposi, 2 concerts, 15.45 and 21.45. (Stratemann p. 246 & 610) OCTOBER 26 Afternoon flight from Turin to Rome, Italy and Rome, Italy, Adriano Theatre, 1 concert, 21.30. (Stratemann p.610; LAHA) OCTOBER 27 Rome, Italy, Adriano Theatre, 2 concerts, 18.30 and 21.30 and Private jam session with the Roman New Orleans Jazz Band and others. (Stratemann p.246 & 610) (RECORDING EXISTS) OCTOBER 28 Rome, Italy, film 'Botta e risposta'. (Stratemann p.610; DB Dec 2, 1949) Note: Possibly also film work October 27, 1949 since DB states that LA 'took three days off ... to make a film". OCTOBER 29 Rome, Italy, private audience with Pope Pius XII, and Transfer to Naples, Italy where the night's concert was cancelled because the orchestra's instruments had not arrived from Rome. (Stratemann p.610; Storyville 161 p.169-171) Note: Storyville has a vivid description by Ernie Anderson of the visit at the Vatican. OCTOBER 30 Naples, Italy, Teatro Politeama, afternoon and evening concerts. (Stratemann p. 246 & 610) OCTOBER 31 Rome, Italy, film 'Botta e risposta'. (Stratemann p.246 & 610) NOVEMBER 1 Genoa, Italy, Teatro Augustus, 2 concerts. (Stratemann p.246 & 610) NOVEMBER 2 Genoa, Italy, departure at 02.00 by bus for Paris, France. (Stratemann p.246 & 610; Var Nov 9, 1949) NOVEMBER 3 Paris, France, Salle Pleyel, 1 concert. (Stratemann p.610) NOVEMBER 4 Paris, France, Salle Pleyel, 1 concert. (Stratemann p.610) NOVEMBER 5 Paris, France, Théatre Des Champs Elysées, 1 concert. (Stratemann p.610) NOVEMBER 6 Paris, France, Théatre Des Champs Elysées, 1 concert. (Stratemann p.610) NOVEMBER 7 Flight from Paris to Lyon, France and Lyon, France, L'Opera, 1 concert. (Stratemann p.610) NOVEMBER 8 Marseille, France, Cinema Rex, 1 concert. (Stratemann p. 610; LAHA) (RECORDING EXISTS) NOVEMBER 9 Bordeaux, France, Alhambra, 1 concert. This was Armstrong's last European concert on this tour. (Stratemann p.246 & 610; Var Nov 2, 1949) NOVEMBER 14 OR 15 Return to the US. (Var Nov 2, 1949) Best wishes Håkan Forsberg PS. You list the venue in Trieste as Teatro Politeama Rossetti . I have in Trieste Teatro Rossetti but I also have - October 30 in Naples Teatro Politeama. If this is a theatre chain perhaps both should be Teatro Politeama Rossetti???? Can you perhaps ask your friend Sergio Portaleoni or give me his mail address so I can ask him. -------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 5 Aug 2007 21:43:15 +0200 From: Sergio Portaleoni To: Michael Minn Subject: additional titles Many thanks for the wonderful Satchmo discography. Louis has played on my town on October 27 1949 at Politeama Rossetti Theatre. Some titles are issued on Musica Jazz MJCD1087 together at Musica Jazz Italian magazine. Titles are: ROYAL GARDEN BLUES BLACK AND BLUE BABY, WON'T YOU PLEASE COME HOME HIGH SOCIETY All the Best Sergio Portaleoni]]>