Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues review: a fascinating look at the jazz legend's life
After its classy Sidney Poitier doc, Apple TV+ offers a fascinating look at another African-American pioneer.
Using archive interviews, the film follows jazz legend Louis from his childhood at an orphans’ home in New Orleans to global stardom.
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As in the Poitier film, the documentary gives voice to those who believed Armstrong had somehow sold out to his racist oppressors.
But potty-mouthed private recordings reveal an angrier side to the smiling jazzman.
As you’d expect, there is wonderful musical footage as well as some unexpected revelations.
Armstrong, apparently, was a big fan of herbs. The pot wasn’t a surprise but l had no idea about the laxatives.
