Louis Armstrong

Louis Armstrong (1901–1971) was an American jazz trumpeter, singer, and bandleader. His virtuosic improvisation and distinctive voice helped establish the soloist as a central force in jazz.

Scat singing: Jazz singing that uses improvised syllables in place of lyrics. Armstrong helped popularize scat with his vocal improvisation on “Heebie Jeebies.”
West End Blues: A 1928 jazz recording by Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five, noted for its opening trumpet cadenza. Its unaccompanied introduction became a landmark demonstration of Armstrong’s virtuosity.
King Oliver: An influential cornetist and bandleader who mentored Louis Armstrong in New Orleans and Chicago. Oliver hired Armstrong into his Creole Jazz Band and helped launch his professional career.
New Orleans jazz: An early jazz tradition that developed in New Orleans through the interaction of African American musical practices. Armstrong’s early musical environment grew from the city’s brass-band, blues, and ensemble traditions.
Bebop: A modern jazz style that emerged in the 1940s, marked by complex harmony, fast tempos, and small-group improvisation. Bebop musicians inherited Armstrong’s emphasis on individual improvisation while developing a different musical language.
Jazz improvisation: The spontaneous creation or variation of music within jazz performance. His solos made improvised melody a defining feature of jazz recordings.
Potato Head Blues: A 1927 Hot Seven recording featuring Louis Armstrong’s trumpet solo and ensemble breaks. The recording showcases his command of blues improvisation and dramatic phrasing.
Lil Hardin Armstrong: An American jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader who was married to Louis Armstrong. Her musicianship and ambition encouraged Armstrong to develop beyond King Oliver’s band.
Storyville: A New Orleans district where legal prostitution operated from 1897 to 1917 and music venues employed jazz musicians. Its closing reshaped the city’s music scene during Armstrong’s youth.
Jazz standard: A widely performed song that forms part of the shared repertoire of jazz musicians. Armstrong’s interpretations helped establish popular songs as material for distinctive jazz performances.

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