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Part II: Jazz Greats and Great Jazz: An Evolutionary Riff
Figure 5-1:
Louis
Armstrong
became the
first modern
soloist in
jazz.
In the following sections, I cover some of the most influential African-American
jazz musicians of 1920s Chicago. (For more about white jazz musicians in
Chicago during this time, see “Going Sweet with a Touch of Hot: Early White
Jazz Musicians,” later in this chapter.)
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong (see Figure 5-1) was the father of modern jazz trumpet and
improvisation (both vocal and instrumental). Armstrong, more than any other
jazz musician, combined instrumental, comedic, compositional, and vocal
ability. He was the first famous player to popularize swinging, syncopated,
bluesy rhythms, and he was a madly inventive soloist and charismatic front
man who charmed a variety of audiences — white and black, young and old.
©William P. Gottlieb, www.jazzphotos.com
Armstrong (1901–1971) was the first modern jazz soloist, playing a lead role,
taking more and longer solos than supporting bandmates. Early bands,
including King Oliver’s, were more collaborative, but Armstrong used his
small groups to showcase his soloing abilities, and the notion of organizing a