A Musician who I felt had a very important impact on the development of Jazz music is Louis Armstrong. Armstrong was was born in 1901 and lived until 1971. He was raised in New Orleans in the middle of black Storyville (Battlefield). Armstrong changed Jazz from comedy to solo professional. Armstrong was not simply born with his talent. He learned from music lessons from King Oliver ( A jazz cornet player and bandleader. He was particularly recognized for his playing style and his pioneering use of mutes in jazz)in exchange for running errands. When Oliver went up north in 1918, Armstrong replaced him in Kid Ory’s Brown Skinned Babies. “Armstrong’s interest in clarinet style led him to explore faster, higher, and more complex figures than previous cornetists had done in 1920s.” Harker, Brian. Jazz: An American Journey. Upper Saddle River, NJ: (Pearson Prentice Hall, 2005), 69. It represented the first significant example of cross-instrumental influence in jazz. In 1922 Oliver invited him to join the Creole Jazz Band in Chicago where they both developed a system of harmonized duet breaks. When they performed it made it seem that the two cornetists had a telepathic relationship. Therefore the duet breaks spread Armstrong’s name throughout the music community. …show more content…
While he was in New York he recorded many solos with Henderson’s orchestra as well as dozens of records with Bessie Smith,Alberta Hunter,Clara Smith and more. In 1925 Armstrong returned to Chicago and was found to be a celebrity. In 1925 Armstrong and four of his friends came to become the Hot Fives and the Hot Sevens. They recorded the song “Heebie Jeebies”, it’s a significant song because he introduced scat singing in the song. Funny thing is he actually began scatting on the recording to save the take when he dropped the lyric sheet in the middle of
Developed in the early 1940's, Bop had established itself as vogue by 1945. It's main innovators were alto saxophonist Charlie Parker and trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie. In this stage in jazz, improvisation differed immensely. Bebop soloists engaged in harmonic improvisation, often avoiding the melody altogether after the first chorus. Usually under seven pieces, the soloist was free to explore improvised possibilities as long as they fit into the chord structure. Popular and influential jazz artists include: Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, & Cannonball Adderley. Armstrong is most known for his involvement in hot jazz as a trumpeter, but is especially renowned for his improvisation capabilities. Louis Armstrong, born August 4, 1901 right in the beginning stages of the jazz movement, was originally from New Orleans. Armstrong was a bandleader, soloist, comedian/actor, and vocalist. Another famous, Miles Davis, is what some consider to be the best trumpeter of the era. Davis was born on May 26, 1926 in Alton, Illinois. One unique thing about Davis was that he was taught to play without vibrato, which was incredibly contrary to the popular way of
Louis Armstrong, nicknamed “satchmo” because of his large mouth, which noticeably stood out compared to the most well known figures in early jazz. To many, he is still the creator of modern jazz music. Armstrong was born on July 4, 1900 in New Orleans. He grew up in New orleans with his grandmother, having never met his father
His boisterous personality influenced many aspects of American culture, and his contributions and influence on Jazz are immeasurable. Nobody has done more for Jazz than Louis Armstrong, without question he is a Jazz legend (Friedwald). Armstrong excelled at everything he performed. A renaissance man of our time, his appreciation for music and life showed in his performances, and his talent showed his techniques and improvisation. Louis’s technique and improvisation on the trumpet set the standard for Jazz musicians (Friedwald). Fellow trumpeter Dizzie Gillespie credited Armstrong with this honor stating, “If it weren’t for him there wouldn’t be any of us.” This reputation would lend him to be referred to as Jazz royalty. With his trumpet and his scat singing he revolutionized Jazz. Though vocally limited, his understanding of how to use his voice beyond his natural abilities led to his perfection of scat (Edwards). Scatting allowed him to perfect his improvisational skill. Scatting, or scat singing would come to be known as the “House that Satch Built” and Armstrong the “Original Man of Scat.”
Louis Armstrong created a huge cultural shift that swept over America and changed music forever. It allowed for African-Americans to be a part of the music industry, and even contributed to women’s acceptance in music as well. African- Americans are now a vast majority of our musicians and artists, and are just as appreciated and idolized as white musicians. Louis Armstrong’s love for music and jazz still thrives today among his fans and fans of jazz in general. He is well-known and well-respected, and will never be forgotten in the music industry. Louis Armstrong changed music for the better, and will always be the king of jazz.
...elopment of early jazz styles. Improvisation was his thing and he was very good at it. Armstrong also introduced scat singing to the jazz world by accident during a recording.
With his new big band, Gillespie attempted to popularize bebop and make himself the signature figure of the style. Dizzy was the soloist and showman of his own big band which performed from 1946 to 1950. In 1953, someone accidently sat on his trumpet. Due to this, the bell on the instrument now titled upward at a 45-degree angle. Dizzy discovered that this new shape to his beloved instrument created an improved sound quality. From then on, he always incorporated this shape into his new trumpets. With his own big band, Gillespie was best known for his songs “Oop Bob Sh’Bam” and “Leap Frog.” In 1956, Gillespie traveled to the Middle East on a cultural mission sponsored by the United States State Department. While there he wrote and recorded his famous piece titled “Tunisia.” In 1959 Dizzy Gillespie released an album titled A portrait of Duke Ellington dedicated to the famous musician. In 1964 Dizzy Gillespie ran for the U.S.
He was known as the Father of Jazz. He was most notable as an entertainer, however, he was a soloist that provided improvisations in regards to tunes. Louis Armstrong's “What a Wonderful World” is the first song that comes to many minds when discussing jazz. He is also well known for his scat singing, However, he also had a political side. In his song “What Did I Do To Be So Black and Blue,” Armstrong talks about the color of his skin as a bad thing and how blacks were treated. In World War II he fulfilled by performing for the soldiers during a recording
“Louis Armstrong charismatic stage presence impressed not only the jazz world but all of popular music.” “Louis Armstrong received music lessons on the coronet while he was in jail and from there on he loved music.” Joe Oliver started mentoring Armstrong and showing him pointers on the horn and would occasional, using him as a sub when he was out and could not play in the band. In 1918 Armstrong replaced Oliver in “Kid Ory’s Band,” the most popular band in New Orleans. Armstrong was able to stop working manual labor jobs and began playing at parties, dances, funerals marches, and honky-tonks. Louis Armstrong started his summer playing on riverboats with a band by Fate Marble. Armstrong made his first recorded on April 5, 1923. Armstrong began playing with is wife’s band in 1925. “Armstrong created more than 60 records in 1925 to 1928 with the Hot Five.” Armstrong started playing the trumpet in 1926. Armstrong made his first tour of England in 1932. Armstrong went on his second tour to Europe in 1933. Armstrong was the first African American jazz musician in 1936.Armstrong Joined Columbia Records in the 1950s (“Louis Armstrong
Of course, Armstrong 's achievements in jazz music could not be summarized by the above description. He is the greatest and most important musician in jazz history, and he made an innovation of jazz music. It is no exaggeration to say that, in a sense, Armstrong pioneered jazz
Louis Armstrong was an African American musician whose fame skyrocketed during the Harlem Renaissance. In 1912, Armstrong started to sing on the streets of New Orleans, for a living. However, Louis Armstrong fully came into contact with the musical world after being sent to the New Orleans Colored Waifs Home for Boys. He had ended up there after firing a pistol into the air one New Year’s Eve. The musical instructor of the school, Joe “King” Oliver, had seen potential talent in young Louis Armstrong, so he soon became his mentor. Oliver eventually taught Armstrong how to play the cornet. Louis Armstrong started out with small gigs; he often played with bands in lesser known clubs, and performed at funerals all around New Orleans. Eventually, after leaving the Colored Waifs Home for Boys, he took on a night job performing in a dance hall at Henry Ponce’s. After forming a band that was known as the “Hot Five,” Louis Armstrong cut his first record in ...
He had a wonderful ear and a wonderful memory. All you had to do was hum or whistle a new tune to him and he’d know it right away” (Boujut 21). At the end of 1918 Armstrong married Daisy Parker, a prostitute he had met at a dance hall that he played on Saturday nights. The marriage ended only four years later due to her beating him regularly (Bergreen 87). Louis Armstrong was hired in May of 1919 to play on a riverboat that traveled the Mississippi River from New Orleans to St. Louis. Armstrong soon became very popular in St. Louis and was in high demand (Collier 124). Two and a half years later, he was thrown off the riverboat and fired due to a fight. After returning to New Orleans, he received a telegram from King Oliver in Chicago. It was an invitation to join The Creole Jazz Band – an offer Armstrong couldn’t refuse. The Jazz Band cut it’s first record in the spring of 1923 and toured throughout Illinois, Ohio,...
Louis Armstrong was known as the King of jazz, a trumpeter and singer who was one of the most influential figures in jazz music. Famous for his innovative methods of playing the trumpet and cornet, he was also a highly talented singer blessed with a powerful voice. Known for his skills on being able improvise, he would bend and twist the many lyrics and melody of a song with dramatic effect. As his popularity grew in the mid-20th century America when racism was more prevalent, he was one of the first African-American entertainers to be highly popular among both the white and the colored segments of the society. Fondly nicknamed Satchmo or Pops by his fans, he is often regarded to be the founding father of jazz as a uniquely American art form. Born into poverty in New Orleans, he had a very difficult childhood after his father abandoned the family. As a young boy, he
When it comes to jazz music, there is one name that everyone knows, whether they’ve never listened to jazz before or if they’ve listened to it their whole lives. That name is Louis Armstrong. Armstrong was one of the pioneers of jazz music, from his humble beginnings in one of New Orleans roughest districts, “the Battlefield”, to playing concerts for sold out crowds in Chicago and New York City, Louis left a massive impact on the way America listened to music for a long time. One of his premier tracks, “West End Blues”, left an impact on jazz music, which other musicians would try to emulate for years.
Throughout history, and even today, music has shaped America’s culture, society, and even politics. One of the most outstanding and enduring musical movement has been from African American artists, ranging from bebop to jazz to hip-hop to rap. During the 1920’s , jazz artists stepped into the limelight and began their impact on American and even world history. Louis Armstrong was one of the most influential leaders during the Harlem Renaissance and his jazz legacy and impact of American history is everlasting. A master of his craft, Armstrong and his music heavily influenced America’s white and black populations from the 1920’s and up until his death.
Influence of Jazz on American Culture Nowadays, many believe that jazz is not that important in the music genre, but with our history, jazz plays a big role. “Jazz does not belong to one race or culture, but it is a gift that America has given to the world,” quoted Ahmad Alaadeen. Jazz in the 1920’s opened the eyes of whites and invited them into African American culture; it evolved Americans to where we are today since it brought a change to the music scene, an acceptance of African Americans, and a change of lifestyles. Jazz began affecting American culture from the beginning of its conception.