ARMSTRONG, Louis, and others.

Inquire · Offered by Peter Harrington

Original concert programme, Festival International du Jazz, Nice, 1948. An attractive programme from the collection of Michel de Bry (1890–1970), a Parisian art collector and dealer and a keen plaster-caster, who, with the eminent critic and producer Hugues Panassié, co-promoted the event. The programme is signed or inscribed on the front wrapper by the headliner Louis Armstrong ("Best Wishes to the festival") and the members of the first and greatest of his All-Stars bands: the pianist Earl "Fatha" Hines, the bassist Arvell Shaw, the singer Velma Middleton, the clarinettist Barney Bigard, the drummer Big Sid Catlett, and the trombonist Jack Teagarden. It is additionally signed by Satchmo's much-hated road manager Pierre "Frenchy" Tallerie, and the tenor saxophonist and clarinettist, Mezz Mezzrow, who also featured on the bill. Last, it has the extremely uncommon signature of the eminent tenor saxophonist Lucky Thompson. The Nice Festival is generally considered to have been the first jazz festival of international significance. Armstrong headlined the festival as part of his 1948 European Tour, his first since 1935, with a band which was truly an "All-Star" aggregation.

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