Louis Armstrong Jazz History

Jazz has a rich history that predates all the way to the mid 1800s. It is a form of music that originated from African Americans. Jazz was tied to the experiences African Americans suffered in America. Having nothing, enslaved African Americans entertained themselves through singing. As a result, jazz incorporates their songs, among other styles such as blues, to create a defining genre. Over the years, many prominent individuals added unique aspects to jazz, such as improvisation. Among these individuals is the famous Louis Armstrong. Louis Armstrong, also famously known as Satchmo, Pops, and Satch, was born in New Orleans on August 4, 1901. New Orleans was also where jazz originated from, thus signifying a strong bond between Armstrong

He continued his musical career as a soloist, performing alongside many outstanding artists such as Bessie Smith and Sidney Beckhet. However, Armstrong returned to Chicago. Upon returning, he formed his own band called Louis Armstrong and his Hot Five. With his newly formed band, Armstrong was able to create over 60 records within a timespan of three years. Furthermore, his band later became the Hot Seven. Louis Armstrong was able to pave a new road for jazz; transforming it from an ensemble to more of a soloist’s art. Solos and improvisation play crucial roles in jazz as it allows musicians to freely express themselves through their various play style. In addition, improvisation is also what would later define a jazz musician. Louis Armstrong was not only able to alter jazz, but additionally, introduced the concept of scat singing. In essence, scat singing is a style of singing where words are said in a way that does not make any sense. They can range from simple mutters to nonsense syllables. Scat singing is meant as a form of improvisation using the voice as an instrument instead of a speaking medium. Although Armstrong was with the Hot Seven, he also performed with another band, Erskine Tate’s Orchestra. He often played in silent movies, however, Armstrong finally switched from playing the cornet to playing the trumpet in 1926. Louis Armstrong’s popularity continued to grow as he continued to perform. He soon performed a duet with a pianist named Earl “Fatha” Hines, who incorporated Armstrong’s ideas into his playing. they were able to produce some of jazz’s greatest records, such as “Weather Bird” and “West End Blues.” The latter recording was considered one of the great musician’s finest works as it combines opera and blues. With this recording, Armstrong was able to prove that jazz is not only a genre meant for fun and dancing, but was also capable