Black Music Month 2014: Meet Lil Hardin-Armstrong

From Wikipedia

Pianist. Composer. Arranger. Bandleader. Singer. Lillian Hardin, later known as Lil Hardin-Armstrong, was one of early jazz's few prominent women and like a lot of them, she and her music have gone unsung. 

Lil Hardin-Armstrong's Wikipedia page

Lil Hardin-Armstrong's Red Hot Jazz profile


MUSIC

Lil's Hot Shots

According to Red Hot Jazz, Lil's Hot Shots was a pseudonym for Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five. Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five was signed to Okeh records, so the pseudonym was used when recording for Vocalion.

"Georgia Bo-Bo"

"Georgia Bo-Bo" was originally recorded on May 28, 1926 in Chicago, Illinois for Vocalion records. It was re-issued on Brunswick records, according to the YouTube video description. 


"Drop That Sack"

"Drop That Sack" was also recorded for Vocalion on May 28, 1926. Ms. Armstrong's piano playing can be heard more prominently here.


New Orleans Wanderers /New Orleans Bootblacks
*Warning: Mention of Domestic/Gender Violence*

"These fine sessions caused a lot of discord in the Armstrong household. Columbia records approached Lil about writing and recording some songs. Louis was not allowed to play on the tracks because he was under contract with Okeh at the time, but Louis and Lil collaborated on the writing of three of the songs. When the records came out, only Louis Armstrong's name was printed on the records, making it seem that he played on the records. Louis was furious and slapped Lil and accused her of knowing all about the deal and of spending his share of the composer's fee. The other two records of this session were released under the name of the New Orleans Bootblacks. Despite the domestic drama, these are some of Lil's best recordings. She claimed that she completely scored Perdido Street Blues, to the point of even writing out the solos." [Red Hot Jazz]

Based on certain links (and photos of some vinyl records), it appears that this group may have also been known as "Johnny Dodds and the New Orleans Wanderers/Bootblacks". His prominent clarinet playing on most of these recordings is certainly an indicator. 

"Gate Mouth"

(New Orleans Wanderers)

Eight songs were recorded during this troubled Columbia session (four released under the name "New Orleans Wanderers" and four under the name "New Orleans Bootblacks"). Six of the songs (including "Gate Mouth") were recorded on July 13, 1926 and two others on July 14th. 


"Papa Dip"
(New Orleans Wanderers)

"Perdido Street Blues"
(New Orleans Wanderers)

There is beauty in every instrument in this song. By the way, other members of the New Orleans Wanderers (and Bootblacks) were Baby Dodds (drums) George Mitchell (cornet), Kid Ory (trombone), and Johnny St. Cyr (banjo).


"Too Tight"
(New Orleans Wanderers)

New Orleans Bootblacks Music:

"I Can't Say" 

"Mad Dog"

"Flat Foot" (rec. July 14, 1926)

"Mixed Salad" (rec. July 14, 1926)

Lil Armstrong and Her Orchestra

Lil Armstrong and Her Orchestra recorded mainly for Decca (on September 8, 1938) and Essex (dates unknown). This is the era in which (I presume) we hear her singing voice for the first time.

"Everything's Wrong, Ain't Nothing Right"

(Decca)

"Harlem On a Saturday Night"

(Decca)

Everything that made this era of music great can be heard in this song: reverence for Harlem, swingin' instruments and melody, exciting lyrics--this is a quintessential swing tune.

"Knock-Kneed Sal (On The Mourner's Bench)"

(Decca)

(I was unable to find the male vocalist singing with Ms. Armstrong)

"Safely Locked Up in My Heart"

(Decca)

Here is a nice little switch from the bouncy jazz and blues tunes shared above. "Safely Locked Up in My Heart" is a sweet love long. 

*Songs recorded with Essex were not available on YouTube*

Lil Armstrong and Her Swing Orchestra

The majority of Ms. Armstrong's recordings as bandleader were recorded during this era--and these songs are arguably her most popular. Red Hot Jazz lists eighteen recordings (all with Decca) by Lil Armstrong and Her Swing Orchestra. This band was probably the largest she'd lead in her career, as well. 

"Brown Gal"

(Recorded in Chicago on October 27, 1936)

"My Hi De Ho Man" 

(Recorded in Chicago on October 27, 1936)

"Bluer Than Blue"

(Recorded in New York on April 15, 1937)

"Lindy Hop" 

(Recorded in New York on July 23, 1937)

"Let's Get Happy Together"

(Recorded in New York on February 2, 1938)

*Complete list of recordings by Lil Armstrong and Her Swing Orchestra*

Lil "Brown Gal" Armstrong and Her Dixielanders

(All songs recorded for Decca records on March 17, 1940)

"Riffin' the Blues"

"Why Is A Good Man So Hard to Find"

(Vocals by Midge Williams)

*Two other recordings: "My Secret Flame" (w/vocals by Hilda Rogers) and "Sixth Street" unavailable on YouTube*

Lil "Brown Gal" Armstrong and Her All Star Band

(All songs recorded in New York on January 9, 1945 for Black and White records)

"East Town Boogie"

(B-side to "Confessin'")

Ms. Armstrong first recorded this song in 1945, as stated above. She also recorded a version for Eastwood records in 1947. The version heard in the video above was recorded on September 7, 1961 as a part of Riverside Records' "Chicago: The Living Legends Series" [YouTube].

*Three other recordings: "Confessin'", "Little Daddy Blues", and "Lady Be Good" (B-Side to "Little Daddy Blues") were unavailable on YouTube*

Lil Armstrong and Her Chicago Boys

*Lil Armstrong recorded music with this band for Gotham records on April 4, 1950. Most of them were versions of song's she'd recorded before. Plus, the band members aren't listed on Red Hot Jazz.

DISCOGRAPHY

Solo Music

"Rock It"

(Recorded in Chicago in 1947 for Eastwood Records)

*Another version of "Little Daddy Blues" was recorded in 1947 for Eastwood records. Ms. Armstrong also recorded "Walking on Air" the same year for the same label. These recordings, along with the previously mentioned "East Town Boogie", are unavailable on YouTube.

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Below are links to a 1961 performance given by Lil Armstrong and Mae Barnes (on drums) on "America's Music: Chicago and All That Jazz" - an episode of the NBC's The DuPont Show of the Week.

Clip One - performance of "The Pearls"

Clip Two - extended w/a performance of "Heebie Jeebies" 

(clip titled with wrong year)

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I hope you found this post both enlightening and "delightening"! Please share with others! Tell a friend or family member about Lil Hardin-Armstrong! :-)