Jazz and Armstrong Essays

Submitted By roudinan
Words: 599
Pages: 3
Open Document
Gandhi Delone March 13, 2012
Written Assignment
College of Staten Island

Louis Armstrong is one of the great pioneers of Jazz. His contribution to Jazz and American music is undeniable. While growing up in New Orleans in poverty, Armstrong became passionate about music by listening to the jazz musicians of his time such as King Oliver, at a time when jazz was relatively new. Armstrong’s improvisation was a hallmark of his music. He used melodic paraphrases and chord-change-bases improvisations to captivate and charm his audience. He showed how versatile jazz could be by varying the melody as he was performing. Armstrong is also highly admired for his trumpet playing skills. Some of his masterpieces such as “That’s My Home”, “Body and Soul” are structured with high note trumpet solos. He was notorious for his technical virtuosity and inspired several trumpeters of the swing era and saxophonists such as Coleman Hawkins and Bud Freeman. Scat singing was also a hallmark of his music. Armstrong’s ingenious and impeccable way of varying melodies and marrying his grave voice with scat phrasing and his trumpet made his music highly sought after. He laid a strong foundation for the upcoming jazz musicians of his generation. Louis Armstrong was a great influence on Coleman Hawkins and his music. Like Armstrong, Coleman was one of the first improvisational jazz players. He exerted a great influence on the musicians of the swing era, notably Ben Webster and Chu Berry. Inspired by Armstrong’s impeccable trumpet playing techniques, he mastered the saxophone and developed a distinctive style, which earned him the title of the first major saxophonist in the history of jazz. His deep and grave tone certainly reminded his audience of Armstrong. His saxophone playing set him apart and seduced his audience. Like Armstrong who mostly used a complex style in his music, Hawkins structured his music with harmonically complex lines. He was known for his unbeatable energy at faster tempos. One of his pieces called “The Quintet” is evidence of his ability to play fast tempo music. He was also a very versatile musician. His repertoire consists of ballads with tender and rhapsodic lines such as “ Body and Soul”, “Lost in a Fog”, “ April in Paris”. Hawkins pursuit of harmonic structure made him one of the most important people in the history of jazz. His evocative music inspired many and he is oftentimes considered to be the one who
Show More

Related Documents: Jazz and Armstrong Essays

Louis Armstrong: Newport Jazz Festival Of 1958

Louis Armstrong is one of the most admirable trumpet players and jazz artists to perform in the industry. Therefore, watching this concert was extremely enjoyable. Louis took a minuscule part in this concert as it was part of the Newport Jazz Festival of 1958. The festival went on for several days and featured an endless amount of empowering artists that played in the festival that year. Other considerable artists that performed that year were Miles Davis, Ray Charles, and Benny Goodman. Like in…

Words 578 - Pages 3

How Did Louis Armstrong Impact Society

time of the Harlem Renaissance; music, literature, and art were a big part of this movement. The African American culture was recognized and appreciated greatly at this time. Jazz became very popular because of an African American, Louis Armstrong. “Louis Armstrong brought New Orleans jazz to the North in the 1920s” (The Jazz 717). His music continued influencing people long after the Harlem Renaissance. Louis was born and raised in New Orleans, La, but his parents didn’t do much of raising him…

Words 565 - Pages 3

The Influence Of Jazz Music In The 1920's

be Jazz. The Twenties are often called the Jazz Age because the popularization of Jazz music had an enormous cultural effect at the time. In some ways, jazz music was like a soundtrack for the twenties overall. The music was fast, lively, and very upbeat, just like the decade itself. With the ending of World War I and the increasing employment opportunities, economy was booming in Canada and people's lives were getting better, people had more money and more spare time for entertainments. Jazz suited…

Words 694 - Pages 3

How Did Louis Armstrong Influence Today

Louis Armstrong was a real game changer for jazz He introduced swing music, popularized scatting, and transformed the format of it by creating something new with his melodies. He brought something fresh and creative to the table with his daring improvisations and charismatic style. Armstrong’s performances were one of the most effective in the twenties that changed jazz forever. They created a milestone that still influences music today. Louis Armstrong was born on August 4, 1901 in New Orleans…

Words 1147 - Pages 5

The Trumpet Research Paper

popular instrument of all time. With talented musicians like Louis Armstrong and Miles Davis, making the trumpet more well known to others. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the roles the trumpet played in jazz, the individuals who made an impact, its functions, and the famous techniques used while playing the trumpet. The trumpet has always been the “lead” instrument in both New Orleans and Chicago styles of traditional jazz playing. It is the instrument that carries the melody of most tunes…

Words 617 - Pages 3

Fletcher Henderson Influence On Jazz Music

Jazz Hands!: How Jazz Greats Sculpted The Music of Their Time Music has always been a guiding force for the world. Since the beginning, it has been used for in place of words for communication and for creative expression. During the Jazz Era of the early 1900’s, this was no different. Despite the looming Great Depression and the hardships the country faced, people continually turned to jazz music to get away from it all. The sometimes-wild, sometimes-soulful genre captivated audiences around the…

Words 1761 - Pages 8

Louis Armstrong Major Accomplishments

was alone. Eventually, Louis Armstrong would become the most influential jazz virtuoso that had a grim past to help him get to the top. Louis Armstrong played in regular bands such as King Oliver’s Creole Band and Fletcher Henderson band and was signing on with different managers such as Tommy Rockwell and Johnny Collins that would almost destroy his his professional jazz carrier. Joe Glaser, Louis’ final manager would bring him from his lowest point to becoming a jazz sensation. The legacy he left…

Words 1221 - Pages 5

The Jazz Age Essay example

Music During the Jazz Age, music was completely revolutionized. Look at the name of the era, the JAZZ age; the years that genre of jazz was born. Much like the early 1900s, Jazz sprung up with a blast, introducing completely new concepts to the world—improvisation, swinging, and syncopation, completely contrasting the old classical sound of band music that the public was used to. Music full of trumpets and trombones soon replaced the traditional string-based compositions. Jazz has different many…

Words 433 - Pages 2

Louis Armstrong: Most Influential People In The 20th Century

Linda Sam Kean Music 004 Professor Garner 2016 July 17 Louis Armstrong Louis Armstrong is well known for being one of the most influential people in the 1900 centuries. He helped evolve Jazz into becoming what it is known today. Some say Jazz is art because it originated in the United States during the time slavery ended. Before it was known as “Jazz”, it was something that started “In the fields where black people worked as slaves and made up songs to pass time, to express themselves and to…

Words 362 - Pages 2

Louis Armstrong Accomplishments

Billboards in 1964, Louis Armstrong became of the most recognized Jazz musicians of his time. The famous performer wasn’t always living the high life as his childhood was quite grueling. Yet, he didn’t let it stop him from working his way up in the music business and leaving a lasting impression on music. Louis Armstrong’s struggles in his childhood paved the way to his successful career of playing trumpet and singing to audiences worldwide, while leaving his mark on Jazz music’s style which still…

Words 1617 - Pages 7