Louis Armstrong's earliest recorded solos resonated with personality, charisma, and rhythmic swing — enough to transform both instrumental and vocal jazz. Featuring "Chimes Blues," "Snake Rag," "Heebie Jeebies," "Sugar Foot Stomp," "West End Blues," and many others.

Detroit has a remarkable jazz tradition starting in the 1920s. Venues both palatial (Graystone, Fox, Club Plantation, Paradise) and small (Band Box, Palms) hosted great jazz. Featuring Jean Goldkette, McKinney's Cotton Pickers, Chocolate Dandies, Earl Hines, and Billie Holiday.

Jazz and blues music from the 1920s-40s. Featuring: Louis Prima, Jack Teagarden, Bessie Smith, Elzadie Robinson, Fats Waller, Benny Goodman, and others.

Chicago jazz and night clubs, from mob-protected speakeasies to the Dreamland Ballroom. Featuring: Joe King Oliver, Jelly Roll Morton, Fats Waller, Fletcher Henderson, and Anita O'Day.

On today's show we'll appreciate Bix Beiderbecke, a shy young man with a horn from Davenport, IA, who lived just 28 years (1903-1931). He played cornet lyrically and deliberately. We'll listen to several memorable recordings made during this remarkable, too-brief career.

This week we're listening to early jazz guitarists who faced individual and societal struggles, even resistance by the jazz world to their chosen instrument. Guitarists Eddie Lang, Lonnie Johnson, Nick Lucas, Big Bill Broonzy, Charlie Christian, and Django Reinhardt will be featured.

With performances of Earl "Fatha" Hines, James P. Johnson, Fats Waller, Teddy Wilson, Stephanie Trick, and Dorothy Donegan we'll tickle some ivories — but only scratch the surface of — recorded piano delights from the 1920s through the 1940s.