A must for Armstrong fans
After reading the previous reviews I was hesitant to purchase this recording. I decided to do so despite warnings about noise that supposedly made it an inferior recording. Boy, was I glad that I did. The clarity of the disc is much better than I expected and the music is positively wonderful!!! If you are a fan of "Pops" or just a fan of great Jazz, pick up a copy of this SACD. Unless you expect unreasonable perfection from a recording made prior to the digital age, you won't be sorry.

Tape Hiss is a GOOD THING
No comment on the recording itself - since I haven't heard it.

The best way to offer a old recording is straight - hiss and all. To "clean up" a recording - digitally or otherwise - is to harm it - even with today's technology. To remove the hiss is to remove the harmonics - which is what gives a live recording it's liveness.

Great Music Poor SACD
Armstrong fans will appreciate the joyfull exuberance of these live european recordings. Audiophiles will cringe at the SACD treatment of this album. Analog tape hiss from the original recordings is faithfully reproduced on the SACD treatment and on quiet passages, the tape hiss is overwhelming and distracting. With the premium cost of SACD recordings, I think Columbia could have digitally cleaned this recording up before releasing it. Worth adding as a Jazz album, not worth adding as an SACD demo.