Louis Armstrong

Louis Armstrong played 2nd cornet in King Oliver's band, and is heard on early 1923 recordings. The music is polyphonic, collective improvisation, typical of New Orleans tradition dating back to the late 1800's. Armstrong did not like the control of King Oliver and left the band in 1924. He emerged as a soloist while playing with the Fletcher Henderson band in New York. In 1925, Armstrong recorded the Hot Fives and Hot Sevens, landmarks of jazz history. During this time he also switched from cornet to the more brilliant trumpet, further enhancing his personal style as a jazz musician. Armstrong had several distinguishing characteristics in his playing that placed him at the forefront of the art form. He chose great notes in his solos and shaped his melodic lines, building solos to a climax. The quality of his sound was clear and brilliant, while his range and stamina were unsurpassed. He extended the trumpet range to a high F and could play 30 high C's continuously. Rhythmically, Armstrong had an incomparable sense of swing to go along with his clean articulation. Armstrong colors and embellishes individual notes with varied vibratos and shakes.