When Louis Armstrong first visited the UK in 1932 he was denounced as a dangerous barbarian by audiences, sections of the press and even some musicians. It is worth looking up music papers of the time to read the young Nat Gonella’s stout and furious defence of his one great inspiration, as both trumpeter and singer. In his 70-year career, Gonella channelled all his considerable creativity and charm through the idiom he had absorbed from Armstrong. He became one of Britain’s most popular entertainers before the war, as the public gradually woke up to the style of music he had pioneered. When he died on August 6th, 1998 he had lived through virtually the whole of jazz history.
The Avid disc follows him all the way, from his first session with Billy Cotton’s band in 1930 to a recorded get-together in honour of his approaching 90th birthday in February 1998. It includes a good selection of tracks by his pre-war Georgians, the splendid band that epitomized jazz to a whole generation of British youth. The style is light, tuneful and unhampered by the gratuitous twiddles and tempo changes that so often spoil jazz-flavoured popular music of the period. Nat’s London-accented vocals are a particular delight. It has been said, incidentally, that Georgia – his signature-tune – was one of the most-whistled ditties among British troops during the Second World War.
The ASV collection concentrates mainly on Georgians and New Georgians material, while the Lew Stone set on Claves finds Gonella in the role of featured sideman. My own choice would be the Avid for its breadth of coverage, including a couple of rare 1958 tracks by the Georgia Jazz Band – essentially the Alex Welsh band with Nat assuming the leader’s role. It also contains four tracks recorded in New York in January 1939 with the John Kirby Sextet. The final session, recorded long after Nat had given up the trumpet, finds him singing with all his old spirit, the trumpet parts being taken by Kenny Baker and Digby Fairweather. '