Louis Armstrong & Earl Hines: Weather Bird

This remake of the 1923 Weather Bird Rag startles by its freewheeling looseness and subtle restraint; the thrilling duo looks towards the future making much of scant instrumentation. Brilliant invention abounds as does the timbre of a well-knit ensemble. Hines evokes both rhythm section and a second horn, supplying trombone-like lead-in phrases (first strain) and motifs recalling Armstrongs second-cornet work with King Oliver (second strain). Louis trumpet, rife with overtones, and Hines use of the middle register add aural depth, as does the slightly out-of-tune piano. Notice too the complex rubato of the 4-bar transition just before the third strain. Armstrongs ascending finish brings to mind his trademark rallentando endings from the 1950s All Stars period. A landmark performance . . . but the record company execs may have thought Weatherbird too avant-garde as it was not issued until 1930.