Louis Armstrong Tribute

Louis Armstrong is perhaps the most important figure in the history of American music.  He is certainly one of the most important figures in American music and jazz music.

Listen:
 Satchmo Sampler

As a trumpet player,
Louis established the basic style for the jazz solo.  As a singer, Satchmo made a similar contribution.  He took what had been done before and unified the various influences into a coherent musical style.


As a musician,
Louis Armstrong took this young, fresh music to the world.  He had a great deal to do with making jazz an art form.  He was so well loved that his musical voice traveled where jazz had never been before.

As a human being,
Louis was socially conscious and outspoken.  He spoke out about racial injustice in the United States long before it was safe to do so.  He was also a philanthropist.  He is an example of the potential for humans to surmount great obstacles and remain positive and giving people.

I do tunes
...that Satchmo did and in his style.  As a trumpet player he is one of my most important influences.  His style is at the base of my style as a jazz trumpet player.  Because of this, I don't have to copy his solos verbatim.  I play his style on all of the tunes without copying his solos note for note. 

I used to sing along with his records because I love his music so much.  There is something about his spirit that is incredibly uplifting.  Along the way, I realized I could actually sing in his style and for the past 20 years I have been doing his music extensively as a part of my concerts with my group.  There have also been many special presentations within shows, tributes as a combo with Arvell Shaw (Louis' bass player for 25 years) and as soloist with symphony orchestras.

It is said that I capture the spirit of Louis Armstrong.  Audiences have been thrilled at each performance and amazed to hear the sounds of Satchmo.  I feel like he and I would have been friends had we known each other personally.  Even though our lives are far apart in time and distance, I feel his music like it is mine.  Playing like Louis is as natural for me as walking.  I never had to try to learn to play in his style.  I could just do it.

The repertoire is as follows:
Basin Street Blues
Dipper Mouth Blues
Mack the Knife
What A Wonderful World
Indiana
Struttin With Some Barbeque
Ain't Misbehavin
Do Nothing Until You Hear It From Me
It Don't Mean A Thing
I Can't Give You Anything But Love
A Kiss To Build A Dream On
Sunny Side Of The Street
S.O.L. Blues
Tin Roof Blues
West End Blues
Honeysuckle Rose
Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone
Hello Dolly
Someday You'll Be Sorry
I Found A New Baby
Saint James Infirmary
I Ain't Got Nobody
Just A Closer Walk With Thee
You Rascal You
When The Saints Come Marching In
When It's Sleepy Time Down South
Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans
Undecided
Don't Get Around Much Anymore
Duke's Place (C Jam Blues)
East Of The Sun, West Of The Moon
Saint Louis Blues
Royal Garden Blues
Black And Blue
 

 

 

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