I was rummaging through my best-rated iPod playlist to find a song for this week. It took 21 songs to find something, but it was worth it. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you “West End Blues” by Louis Armstrong and his Hot Five. At worst, it’s one of the most influential jazz recordings ever. At best, it defies all descriptions and superlatives. Some call it the greatest piece of recorded music in history. All I can do is tell you that this song is moving and amazing each and every time I hear it. I taught Jackson to love this song, and I will repeat with the two girls. For your edification, I have enclosed four links for you: the first two are YouTube excerpts from Ken Burns’ Jazz series that highlight … Read entire article »