Musicians :
Louis Armstrong (trumpet, vocals), Wynton Marsalis, Nicolas Payton, Ashlin Parker, Wendell Brunious (trumpet), Wycliffe Gordon (trombone), Roderick Paulin (tenor saxophone), Courtney Bryan (piano), Derwin "Big D" Perkins (guitar), Don Vappie (banjo), Niki Haris, Menia Chester (vocals).

Album includes new arrangements and performances of tunes from the Louis Armstrong era !

A-list ensemble includes special guests Wynton Marsalis and Common !

Celebrate the ongoing influence and legacy of jazz giant and entertainer Louis Armstrong !

The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong All Stars are the cream of the crop of current New Orleans musicians, paying tribute to the musician who started it all in the Crescent City. Comprised of new arrangements and recordings of music associated with Louis by a rotating cast of key New Orleans players including guest features from Wynton Marsalis, Common, and more.

The project's origins came in 2018 under the auspices of the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation and via the recommendation of its executive director Jackie Harris. The further goal was to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the New York organization founded in 1969 by Armstrong and his wife Lucille "to give back to the world some of the goodness he received". The new release missed that landmark because of the pandemic and the fact that some contribuitng artists were living in different cities and recording in different studios.

Nicholas Payton, who arranged seven of the songs, stars on trumpet throughout, including on his own arrangements such as the swinging "Strutting with Some Barbeque", the lyrical and bluesy "A Kiss to Dream On", and the playful "I'll Be Glad When You're Dead". The latter rendition features vocals by Wycliffe Gordon, drummer Herlin Riley, and bassist Reginald Veal.

"We wanted to make this recording of the major 20th century artist who instructs and intersects with artists of the 21st century", says Harris. "All the musicians we asked to participate, even Wynton and Common, were honored to be a part of this. Each artist had a say on the music. We allowed all the musicians to put their own signatures on the songs".