Better Days Will Come Again: The Life of Arthur Briggs, Jazz Genius of Harlem, Paris, and a Nazi Prison Camp

 

Arthur Briggs’s life was Homeric in scope. Born on the tiny island of Grenada, he set sail for Harlem during the Renaissance, then to Europe in the aftermath of World War I, where he was among the first pioneers to introduce jazz music to the world. During the legendary Jazz Age in Paris, Briggs’s trumpet provided the soundtrack while Hemingway, Fitzgerald, and the rest of the Lost Generation got drunk. By the 1930s, Briggs was considered “the Louis Armstrong of Paris,” and was the peer of the greatest names of his time, from Josephine Baker to Django Reinhardt. Even during the Great Depression, he was secure as “the greatest trumpeter in Europe.” He did not, however, heed warnings to leave Paris before it fell to the Nazis, and in 1940, he was arrested and sent to the prison camp at Saint Denis. What happened at that camp, and the role Briggs played in it, is truly unforgettable.

Better Days Will Come Again, based on groundbreaking research and including unprecedented access to Briggs’s oral memoir, is a crucial document of jazz history, a fast-paced epic, and an entirely original tale of survival. 

 
 

VA • Jazz In Paris - Louis Armstrong And Friends [1933-39]

 

In tune with the book "Better Days Will Come Again: The Life of Arthur Briggs, Jazz Genius of Harlem, Paris, and a Nazi Prison Camp", here is a compilation of some of his performances.

 

Review
by Ken Dryden  
The title of this compilation is a bit misleading, as Louis Armstrong only appears on seven of the CD's 20 tracks. All of them were recorded during a visit by the trumpeter to France in 1934 and were made on the sly, since he was under an exclusive contract to another label. The all-stars were primarily European musicians assembled for the session, though pianist Herman Chittison, a fellow American, makes his mark in "Super Tiger Rag," along with the leader's crisp, high-note solo. They compare favorably with some of Armstrong's later work back home with larger orchestras, but for the most part, the music is of minimal interest aside from his contributions. The other selections are a mixed bag. Pianist Freddy Johnson and trumpeter Arthur Briggs lead an orchestra that offers rather dated treatments of "Sweet Georgia Brown" and Spencer Williams' "Foxy and Grapesy." Actress Marlene Dietrich sings in her native German in "Wo Ist der Mann?" (Where Is the Man?), though the lyrics are half-spoken, backed by Briggs and Johnson leading a quintet. Tracks featuring vocalist Louis Cole with Briggs and Johnson are simply forgettable. Austrian singer Greta Keller is far more interesting than Dietrich on her pair of songs, including a moving "Goodbye to Summer" and the humorous, lightly swinging "I'm Gonna Lock My Heart and Throw Away the Key." The band is a good one, with expatriates Herman Chittison on piano and trumpeter Bill Coleman soloing. Clarinetist Danny Polo leads a sextet on the last four tracks, featuring either Garland Wilson or Una Mae Carlisle on piano and the phenomenal but underrated guitarist Oscar Alemán. The unaccredited "Doing the Gorgonzola" is easily the high point of this rare session. Overall, this music falls somewhat short of being essential, though the very reasonable price (like all of the CDs in Universal's Jazz in Paris series) makes it a bit more attractive.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/jazz-in-paris-louis-armstrong-and-friends-mw0000229374

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Reseña
por Ken Dryden  
El título de esta recopilación es un poco engañoso, ya que Louis Armstrong sólo aparece en siete de las 20 pistas del CD. Todas ellas fueron grabadas durante una visita del trompetista a Francia en 1934 y se hicieron a escondidas, ya que tenía un contrato de exclusividad con otra discográfica. Las estrellas eran principalmente músicos europeos reunidos para la sesión, aunque el pianista Herman Chittison, también estadounidense, deja su impronta en "Super Tiger Rag", junto con el nítido y agudo solo del líder. Las composiciones de Armstrong son de gran calidad y se pueden comparar favorablemente con algunos de sus trabajos posteriores con orquestas más grandes, pero en su mayor parte, la música tiene un interés mínimo aparte de sus contribuciones. El resto de las selecciones son variadas. El pianista Freddy Johnson y el trompetista Arthur Briggs dirigen una orquesta que ofrece tratamientos bastante anticuados de "Sweet Georgia Brown" y "Foxy and Grapesy" de Spencer Williams. La actriz Marlene Dietrich canta en su alemán nativo en "Wo Ist der Mann?" (¿Dónde está el hombre?). (¿Dónde está el hombre?), aunque la letra es medio hablada, respaldada por Briggs y Johnson al frente de un quinteto. Los temas en los que aparece el vocalista Louis Cole con Briggs y Johnson son sencillamente olvidables. La cantante austriaca Greta Keller es mucho más interesante que Dietrich en su par de canciones, incluyendo una conmovedora "Goodbye to Summer" y la humorística y ligeramente oscilante "I'm Gonna Lock My Heart and Throw Away the Key". La banda es buena, con los expatriados Herman Chittison al piano y el trompetista Bill Coleman en solitario. El clarinetista Danny Polo lidera un sexteto en los cuatro últimos temas, con Garland Wilson o Una Mae Carlisle al piano y el fenomenal pero infravalorado guitarrista Oscar Alemán. El tema no acreditado "Doing the Gorgonzola" es fácilmente el punto culminante de esta rara sesión. En general, esta música no llega a ser esencial, aunque el precio muy razonable (como todos los CD de la serie Jazz in Paris de Universal) la hace un poco más atractiva.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/jazz-in-paris-louis-armstrong-and-friends-mw0000229374