“Satchmo Serenades” – Louis Armstrong

Album: Satchmo Serenades

Artist: Louis Armstrong

Year: 1952

Genre: Jazz, Swing

Grade: A-

This light, breezy, easy listening collection of swinging ballads, appropriately titled Satchmo Serenades, features Louis Armstrong at his most romantic. His singing is at its syrupy best, and his trumpet playing is as piercing as ever. With an impeccable selection of standards that includes “(When We Are Dancing) I Get Ideas,” “Cold, Cold Heart” and “La Vie en Rose,” Armstrong’s lover-man album — released at the ripe old age of 52 — is pure feel-good music. That’s why they call him Pops.