Louis Armstrong is viewed by many as the single most important figure in the history of jazz, introducing the world to the vocabulary of jazz soloing and the effortless rhythms of swing. Indeed, various aspects of his artistic persona -- from his earliest sides with
King Oliver in the '20s through his later hits like "Hello Dolly" and "What a Wonderful World" in the '60s -- had a tremendous influence not only on jazz but on a wide range of pop music as well. Any attempt at an
Armstrong homage therefore has a huge legacy to confront, and is a risky proposition bound to court controversy and engender criticism from those who would believe there is a "correct" way to honor an artist with such a towering reputation. Well, the Belgian big band
Flat Earth Society proves that there is indeed a correct way to tackle an
Armstrong homage, and that is to throw the idea of "correct" completely out the window. With
The Armstrong Mutations,
FES seemingly examines not only
Armstrong's music but also his life within the broader jazz milieu and his balancing act between groundbreaking artistry and commercial acceptance. The album somehow manages to touch upon all of that while, like
Armstrong himself, remaining supremely entertaining from start to finish.