Take a trip with us to the most revolutionary decade in jazz (1923-1933), when a young Louis Armstrong was creating a new improvisational vocabulary in real-time. This isn’t the “Wonderful World” Satchmo most know, but the young gunner whose genius trumpet solos on “West End Blues” and “Tight Like This” were toppling trumpet kings. We break down Pops’ evolution from King Oliver’s second to pioneering frontman, explore his inventive scat singing (supposedly born when he dropped his lyric sheet), and trace how his massive popularity caught the attention of Chicago gangsters – careful now! From his recordings with Earl “Fatha” Hines to “Black and Blue” – the first jazz song addressing racism – hear exactly why we say there would be no jazz without Louis Armstrong.

Link to Spotify Playlist

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