Louis Armstrong

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Louis Armstrong : biography

And a famous producer George Avakyan wrote: “He was the most talented and skilful of all jazz improvisators of the world. Although there wasn’t such a term at that time he “swung” more than anybody else – pretty often a dull performance of any number was lighted up by a spark of life when Louis started his solo even if this solo lasted for eight times. As an innovator he brought many new techniques and several fresh ideas which later became cliché for other musicians. But they gave birth to new sprouts of good music which became familiar for every person in jazz because of Louis Armstrong”.

The scope of his interests were confirmed by collaboration and joint performances with musicians of different styles – Dixieland, swing and modern jazz, with symphonized groups, spiritual singers and gospel singers, church choirs, blues singers, and participation in philharmonic jazz concerts, musicals, shows and musical films. Armstrong worked out the style which could be easily adapted to every musical context and every audience. He could simultaneously pleased tastes of diametrically opposite groups of listeners (including admirers of pop music and hit songs).

Armstrong was practically the most unique person in the history of jazz. The master managed to combine uncombined in his creative work: his inimitable individual type of self-expression with the boundless availability of music, rather coarse simplicity with spontaneity, traditions with innovations, black ideal of sound extraction with European idioms of swing and mainstream.

Armstrong remained an unquestionable king of jazz till his death and his talent didn’t weaken for a minute, his force of influence on audience didn’t disappear. His warmth and humour invariably made him dear and close for everybody whom he met. All the leading masters of jazz condoled his death – Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Eugene Krupa, Benny Goodman, Al Hirt, Earl Haines, Terry Glenn, Eddie Condon and many others.

“If one should be named Mister Jazz it should be Louis Armstrong” – Duke Ellington said.

Talking on behalf of musicians and millions of admirers of his talent Dizzy Gillespie emphasized: “Louis didn’t die because his music remains in hearts of many and millions people all over the world and in playing of hundred thousands musicians which became his followers”.

Interesting facts

Louis Armstrong’s composition “A Kiss to Build a Dream on” became the introductory composition for the computer game “Fallout 2”.

Matches of Open Tennis Championship of USA are held on the stadium of Louis Armstrong.