BYRON STRIPLING, Sheraton City Center, Oct. 12

Not only did jazz giant Byron Stripling play some jazz, but he sang some blues and gospel as well.

At Stripling's concert Monday night, the man who starred as Louis Armstrong in "Satchmo: America's Musical Legend" gave a well- rounded show comprised of creative musicality, humor and local ties.

The Utah connection came with Stripling's bassist Jeff Cambell and Logan-based guest guitarist Corey Christiansen.

The humor came in all sorts of ways. The charismatic Stripling reminisced about his upbringing that included good-ol' southern cooking and poked fun at how Northerners cook their bacon.

He poked some good-natured fun at the audience members who sometimes had fun themselves in various sing-a-longs.

Backed by his band — Cambell, drummer Richard Thompson and pianist/organist Bobby Floyd — Stripling ripped through a dynamic set that included some hot-off-the burner improvisation and resonating jams.

Not only did his trumpet sing, but his rich baritone did as well.

He graciously offered standards such as "It's You I Hate to Lose" and he dipped into the blues with a rousing rendition of Eddie Vinson's "Kidney Stew Blues."

Throughout the night, Floyd let his fingers fly up and down the keyboards in some show-stopping solos as Thompson dolled out the syncopation.

In fact, there was arguably more piano than trumpet, but that didn't matter, because Stripling more than made up for it with his singing and band leading. And while Floyd captivated the audience more than a few times, once Stripling put his lips to his trumpet mouthpiece, all eyes (and ears) were on him.

Stripling paid tribute to George Gershwin with a version of "Summertime" that combined the perfect trumpet with a Bizet-inspired swagger laid down by Cambell.

The band also played Gershwin's "Lady Be Good" that featured Stripling's own scatting vocals.

Christiansen joined the throng during the second half of the evening, giving Cambell a few minutes to rest.

Floyd jump-started everything with a gospel organ solo of "Amazing Grace" and within a few minutes the band turned the hymn into a swinging anthem.

The moody "Kansas City," of which Stripling promised the audience that it would hear all the lyrics correctly, and Christiansen and Floyd joined forces for "Body and Soul."

The bandleader rejoined the fellows with his own heartfelt version of Mahalia Jackson's "Just a Closer Walk With Thee" and "When the Saints Come Marching In."

And as a coda, Stripling coached the audience in a refrain of Louis Armstrong's "I Can't Give You Anything but Love."

e-mail: scott@desnews.com