Description:

Darius Hampton, conductor

All of the elements that would become jazz—swing, the blues, syncopation, improvisation, scatting—existed previously, but Louis Armstrong blended them in a way that would change music forever. His virtuosity as a trumpet soloist inspired instrumentalists to imitate him, establishing the improvised solo as a centerpiece of jazz. Though his unique, gravelly voice was far from the accepted ideal, jazz singers—from Ella and Billie to Frank and Bing—imitated his phrasing, styling, and scatting. “West End Blues,” “Heebie Jeebies,” “Mack the Knife,” “Stardust,” “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” “Hello, Dolly,” and “What a Wonderful World” are among the multitude of tunes for which his is the definitive version, and he collaborated with such giants as Duke Ellington, Fletcher Henderson, Oscar Peterson, and Earl Hines. Join the new Northwestern University Jazz Ensemble for a celebration of Armstrong’s legacy.