These “gentlemen” apply their talents to a collection of songs made famous by trumpeter, vocalist, composer and the Crescent City’s legendary native son Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong. The selections will be familiar to most people with ears attuned to New Orleans music. Likewise, the musicians heard on Struttin’ with Some Satchmo are all core to this city’s jazz scene, often switching between traditional and modern settings. They pay tribute to Armstrong utilizing their own musical “voices” rather than trying to mimic his style.

As a trumpeter and vocalist, Leon “Kid Chocolate” Brown is naturally at the forefront on most of the material. He’s at his best on the mellower, more romantic songs like “Pretty Little Missy” on which his sweet, flirty vocals are sure to lure in his girl. It opens with some appropriately lighthearted piano from Paul Longstreth. Roderick Paulin’s clarinet tonally matches well with the nature of Kid Chocolate’s voice.

Most musicians agree that without a solid drummer on board, a band doesn’t stand a chance. Shannon Powell is just the guy for the job. Powell is way more than a timekeeper; he brings intricacy and enthusiasm to the entire album plus a true New Orleans flavor singing the chestnut “Basin Street Blues.”

It’s unfortunate that “(What Did I Do to Be So) Black & Blue” is performed instrumentally. The 1929 tune has been described as one of the first protest songs due to its poignant lyrics that address racism. Paulin’s tenor saxophone captures the pain and sorrow.

Banjo master Don Vappie jumps in on an Armstrong original, “Struttin’ with Some Barbecue,” that includes some bright trumpet work by Kid Chocolate. Guest vocalist James Andrews knows how to bring in the humor and improvisation, often important elements in New Orleans traditional jazz, to his vocals on “St. James Infirmary.”

It is greatly appreciated that credits for the composers of these tunes, too often flagrantly missing on releases, are included. A plus too are the liner notes by author, historian and expert on everything Armstrong, Ricky Riccardi, who writes brief, insightful essays on six of the tunes.
Struttin’ with Some Satchmo stands as a complete package that celebrates the legendary Louis Armstrong and the music of New Orleans then and now.