Louis Armstrong, Master of Modernism

by Thomas Brothers

  Great melody carried him through. There were other experts in blues, lead, hot solos, and paraphrase; what made Armstrong different was the flexibility of his mind and his ability to use his experience as the basis for melodic innovation and excellence. He transferred lessons gained from one style over to the others, and he adapted his musical creativity to the conditions at hand. During the 1920s and early 1930s, the period of his finest musical achievement, he was occupied at a deep level with the task of creating melodic responses to varied social formations. He shaped the times and the times shaped him, which is why his value is not only artistic but also historical. Ralph Ellison wrote that “being a Negro means a willed (who wills to be a Negro? I do!) affirmation of self as against all outside pressures.” Armstrong’s willed affirmation took many forms during his long and much-loved career, but the most lasting and far-reaching were his great melodic accomplishments of the 1920s and 1930s.

  (The William Russell Photographic Collection, MSS 520 F. 2056, Williams Research Center, The Historic New Orleans Collection)

  DISCOGRAPHY

  Recordings referenced in the book are listed in alphabetical order and keyed to albums listed below.

  After You’ve Gone (Armstrong, Vol. 5)

  Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Armstrong, Vol. 5)

  Alone at Last (Timeless Historical)

  Anybody Here Want to Try My Cabbage (Complete Louis Armstrong)

  Body and Soul (Armstrong, Vol. 6)

  Bye and Bye (Timeless Historical)

  Canal Street Blues (Off the Record)

  Changeable Daddy of Mine (Complete Louis Armstrong)

  Chimes Blues (Off the Record)

  Cold in Hand Blues (Complete Louis Armstrong)

  Copenhagen (Timeless Historical)

  Dipper Mouth Blues (Off the Record)

  Hotter Than That (Complete Hot Five)

  I’ll See You in My Dreams (Timeless Historical)

  I’m a Ding Dong Daddy (from Dumas) (Armstrong, Vol. 6)

  Mabel’s Dream (Off the Record)

  Mahogany Hall Stomp (Armstrong, Vol. 5)

  Mandy Make Up Your Mind (Timeless Historical)

  A Monday Date (Complete Hot Five)

  Muggles (Complete Hot Five)

  Musrat Ramble (Complete Hop Five)

  My Sweet (Armstrong, Vol. 6)

  Riverside Blues (Off the Record)

  St. Louis Blues (1925) (Jazz)

  St. Louis Blues (1929) (Armstrong, Vol. 6)

  Shanghai Shuffle (Timeless Historical)

  Star Dust (Armstrong, Vol. 7)

  Struttin’ with Some Barbeque (Complete Hot Five)

  Sweethearts on Parade (Armstrong, Vol. 7)

  Tears (Off the Record)

  Tell Me Dreamy Eyes (Timeless Historical)

  Texas Moaner Blues (Young Sidney Bechet)

  Tight Like This (Complete Hot Five)

  Weather Bird (Complete Hot Five)

  (What Did I Do to Be So) Black and Blue (Armstrong, Vol. 5)

  When You’re Smiling (Armstrong, Vol. 5)

  Wild Man Blues (Complete Hot Five)

  Words (Timeless Historical)

  Albums

  The Complete Hot Five and Hot Seven Recordings. New York: Columbia Legacy, 2000.

  The Complete Louis Armstrong and the Singers 1924/30. Switzerland: King Jazz, 1993.

  Jazz: The Smithsonian Anthology. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Folkways, 2010.

  Louis Armstrong, Vol. 5: Louis in New York. New York: Columbia, 1990.

  Louis Armstrong, Vol. 6: St. Louis Blues. New York: Columbia/Sony, 1991.

  Louis Armstrong, Vol. 7: You’re Drivin’ Me Crazy. New York: Columbia/Sony, 1993.

  Off the Record: The Complete 1923 Jazz Band Recordings, King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band. Thurmont: Off the Record, 2006.

  Timeless Historical Presents Fletcher Henderson and Louis Armstrong: 1924, 1925. Wageningen: Timeless, 1991.

  Young Sidney Bechet, 1923–1925: Featuring Louis Armstrong, Clarence Williams, Sara Martin. Wageningen: Timeless, 1998.

  BIBLIOGRAPHY

  Archival Sources

  CJA Chicago Jazz Archive of the Regenstein Library, University of Chicago

  COHP Columbia Oral History Project. Columbia University, New York

  FDC Frank Driggs Collection, private

  HJA Hogan Jazz Archive, Tulane University, New Orleans

  IJS Institute for Jazz Studies, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ

  LAHM Louis Armstrong House Museum, Queens, New York

  LC Library of Congress, Washington, DC

  UMKC Marr Sound Archives, Miller Nichols Library, University of Missouri–Kansas City

  WRC Williams Research Center, New Orleans

  Allen, Shep. WRC 1962, May 24, mss 519, folder 1.

  Armstrong, Beatrice. WRC 1943, mss 519 Louis Armstrong, folder 30.

  Armstrong, Lillian Hardin. WRC 1969, mss 519, folder 3 (transcript of interview conducted Jan. 19).

  ———. CJA 1960, Aug. 15 and Nov. 11 (interviews with Ray Dowell).

  ———. HJA 1959, July 1.

  ———. WRC 1938, mss 519, folder 14 (interview for Jazzmen).

  ———. CJA n.d. (interview with John Steiner, box 87, folder “W”; also folder “Lillian Hardin Armstrong”; also box 78).

  ———. IJS n.d.

  Armstrong, Louis. LAHM 1970, Tape 426 (Armstrong reading a letter that is dated Aug. 15, 1970, and glossing it).

  ———. WRC 1970, mss 506, folder 14 (interview May 5).

  ———. LAHM ca. 1969, letter box 1, folder 8 (unknown recipient, on Bing Crosby; this may well be a memoir and not a letter).

  ———. LAHM 1967, Inv. 1997–25 (“Dear Slim,” Sept. 31).

  ———. IJS 1965 (interview May 22, with Dan Morgenstern and Jack Brady).

  ———. LAHM 1960, Tape 564 (dubbing of interview from July 2, 1960).

  ———. IJS 1954 (Armstrong’s typescript for Satchmo: My Life in New Orleans).

  ———. WRC 1954, mss 536 Louis Armstrong, folder 32 (transcript of interview with Armstrong, conducted by William Russell, Feb. 16, 23, 25, and March 4).

  ———. LAHM 1953, June 29 (letter to Leonard Feather).

  ———. WRC 1953b, mss 519 Louis Armstrong, folder 31 (transcript of interview with William Russell, Chicago, Nov. 29).

  ———. LAHM 1946, Dec. 21 (letter to Melody Maker, Dec. 21).

  ———. LAHM 1946a (letter to Miss Madeleine Berard).

  ———. IJS 1941 (letter to Leonard Feather, Oct. 1).

  ———. WRC 1939, Jan. 18, mss 519, folder 16 (interview for Jazzmen).

  ———. LAHM 1933, Inv. 2006–018 Jan. 21, 1933 (sent from 3529 South Parkway. Chicago, IL; folder identifies recipients as Renee and Sadie Gerther).

  ———. LAHM 1932, Inv. 2002–32 (transcript of 19-page letter, Sept. 17, 1932, “Dear Mabel”).

  ———. LAHM Tape 17.

  ———. LAHM Tape 96.

  ———. LAHM Tape 173.

  ———. LAHM Tape 202.

  ———. LAHM Tape 239.

  ———. LAHM Tape 295.

  ———. LAHM Tape 495.

  ———. WRC n.d. mss 519 Louis Armstrong, folder 366.

  ———. WRC n.d., mss 519 Louis Armstrong, folder 6.

  Barefield, Eddie. IJS 1978, Nov. 20.

  Barker, Danny. IJS, Jazz Oral History Project, n.d.

  Barker, Danny, with Milt Hinton. IJS, Jazz Oral History Project.

  Barnes, Paul. WRC 1968, Oct. 15, mss 519, folder 2.

  Barnes, Paul and Emile. HJA 1959, Oct. 1.

  Bechet, Sidney. WRC ca. 1938, mss 519, folder 20.

  Bernhardt, Clyde. FDC 1974, March 24 (interview with Frank Driggs).

  Bertrand, Jimmy. HJA 1959, Sept. 9.

  Bigard, Barney. IJS 1976.

  ———. HJA 1969–72.

  Bocage, Charlie and Peter. HJA 1960, July 18.

  Brown, Ralph. COHP 1971 (interview with John Lax).

>   Browne, Scoville. COHP 1971, Dec. 14 (interview with John Lax).

  ———. FDC n.d.

  Brunis, George. HJA 1958, June 3.

  Bubbles, John. IJS, Jazz Oral History Project, n.d.

  Burton, Buddie. HJA 1959, Sept. 7.

  Bushell, Garvin. IJS 1977, August.

  Carew, Roy. HJA 191, June 21.

  Cheatham, Doc. IJS 1976, April.

  ———. UMKC. (Interview with Frank Driggs).

  Christian, Buddy. WRC ca. 1938, mss 519, folder 21.

  Christian, Lillie Delk. WRC n.d., mss 519, folder 1.

  Clayton, Buck. 1979. IJS, Jazz Oral History Project.

  Cole, Cozie. 1980. IJS, Jazz Oral History Project.

  Collins, Lee. HJA 1958, June 2.

  Compton, Glover. HJA 1959, June 30.

  ———. CJA 1958 (interview with Francis Squibb).

  Davison, Bill. CJA 1981, Sept. 10 (interview with Wayne Jones).

  ———. IJS 1980, Jan. 2–4.

  De Faut, Voltaire. WRC 1970, Nov. 21, mss 519, folder 2.

  De Pass, Lillian. HJA 1960, June 20.

  Dickerson, Killis. CJA 1967, Nov. 27, John Steiner Collection, box 82, folder “Carroll Dickerson” (letter to Charles Sengstock and John Steiner).

  Diggs, Laura, with Carrie Boote. HJA 1959, May 25.

  Dixon, George. CJA 1990, Aug. 15 and 17 (interview with Richard Wang).

  Dodds, John. WRC ca. 1938, mss 515, folders 15 and 28 (notes from interview with William Russell).

  ———. WRC mss 513, folder 32.

  Dodds, John, Jr. CJA 1969, Aug. 21 (interview with John Steiner).

  Dodds, Warren. HJA 1958, May 31.

  ———. WRC n.d., mss 515, folder 27.

  Dominique, Natty. CJA 1981, Oct. 24 (interview with John McDonough).

  ———. HJA 1958 (interview May 31).

  ———. WRC 1952, mss 519, folder 88.

  ———. CJA 1952. John Steiner Collection, box 82, folder “Natty Dominique.”

  Dorsey, Thomas, with Mayo Williams. CJA 1971, Oct. 23 (interview with John Steiner).

  ———. CJA ca. 1960 (interview with John Steiner).

  ———. CJA n.d. (interview with John Steiner; notes in folder “Thomas Dorsey,” box 96).

  Duhé, Lawrence. HJA 1960.

  Elgar, Charles. WRC 1970, Nov. 20, mss 519, folder 1.

  ———. HJA 1958, May 27.

  ———. CJA n.d., John Steiner Collection, box 82, folder “Charles Elgar.”

  Frazier, Josiah. HJA 1972, Jan. 19.

  Freeman, Bud. CJA 1980 (interview, George Spink Collection).

  ———. IJS 1965, 1975.

  Garland, Ed “Montudie.” WRC 1969, July 30, mss 519, folder 13.

  ———. HJA 1958, Aug. 8.

  ———. WRC 1958, Aug. 16, mss 519, folders 11 and 12.

  ———. HJA 1957, April 16.

  ———. IJS n.d., Jazz Oral History Project.

  Hall, Minor “Ram.” HJA 1958, Sept. 2.

  Henry, Charles “Sunny.” HJA 1959, Jan. 8.

  Higgenbotham, J. C. IJS, Jazz Oral History Project, n.d.

  Hightower, Willie. HJA 1958, June 3.

  Hines, Earl, with George “Pops” Foster and Louis Deppe. COHP 1971 (interview with John Lax).

  ———. CJA 1961, Jan. 30 (interview with John Steiner, box 83).

  Hinton, Milton. IJS 1992 (interview by Billy Taylor).

  ———. IJS 1976 (interview with David Berger).

  ———. IJS 1974, July (interview by Tom Piazza).

  ———. COHP 1971 (interview by John Lax).

  Hodes, Art.CJA 1988, Oct. 9 (interview with Don Phillips).

  ———. CJA n.d., box 83, folder “Art Hodes” (interview with John Steiner).

  Holmes, Charles. FDC n.d.

  ———. IJS n.d., Jazz Oral History Project.

  Howard, Darnell. HJA 1957, April 21.

  ———. CJA n.d. John Steiner Collection, box 83.

  Howard, Paul. WRC 1969, July 31, mss 519, folder 1.

  ———. CJA n.d., box 83, folder “Darnell Howard” (interview with John Steiner).

  Hug, Armand. HJA 1974, July 8.

  Humphrey, Willie, Jr. HJA 1959, March 15.

  Hunter, Alberta. IJS 1976–77.

  Jackson, Preston. FDC 1973, April 13.

  ———. FDC 1973a, April 19.

  ———. CJA 1972, May 20, John Steiner Collection, box 96.

  ———. HJA 1958, June 2.

  ———. WRC 1938, mss 519, folder 15 (interview for Jazzmen).

  ———. WRC n.d., mss 519, folders 6, 9, and 13.

  ———. CJA n.d., John Steiner Collection, box 96, folder “Baby Dodds,” and box 78, folder “Louis Armstrong.”

  Jackson, Quentin. IJS 1976.

  Johnson, Bill. WRC ca. 1938, mss 519, folder 28 (interview for Jazzmen).

  Johnson, Budd. IJS 1975.

  Johnson, Manzie (Isham). WRC 1969, April 21, mss 519, folder 2.

  Jones, Richard. WRC ca. 1938.

  Lewis, Steve. WRC ca. 1938, mss 519, folder 34 (interview for Jazzmen).

  Mares, Paul. WRC ca. 1938, mss 519, folder 31 (interview for Jazzmen).

  Marsala, Joe. WRC ca. 1938, mss 519, folder 32.

  Mason, Norman. HJA 1960, Feb. 6.

  Matthews, Bill. HJA 1959, March 10.

  Maxwell, Jimmy. IJS 1979, March 20.

  McBride, Mary and Billy. HJA 1959, July 1.

  McConnell, Charles. CJA, John Steiner Collection, box 87, folder “Trumbauer.”

  McHargue, Rosy. HJA 1991.

  Meyer, Sig. CJA 1975, box 97, folder “King Oliver” (interview with John Steiner).

  ———. CJA 1966, July 1, box 86, folder “Dave Peyton” (interview with John Steiner).

  ———. CJA 1965, 1971, 1974, boxes 83 and 84, folders “Sig Meyer” (interviews with John Steiner).

  Miles, Lizzie. HJA 1951, Jan. 18.

  Miller, Punch. HJA 1960, April 4.

  ———. IJS 1960.

  ———. HJA 1959, Aug. 20 and Sept. 1, 25.

  ———. HJA 1957, April 9.

  Millstein, Gilbert. HJA n.d., vertical file for Louis Armstrong (article entitled “Africa Harks to Satch’s Horn”).

  Mitchell, George. CJA 1969, April 18 (interview with John Steiner and Karl Dallas).

  ———. HJA 1959, July 1.

  Moore, Fred. HJA 1959, June 19.

  Morand, Herb. HJA 1950, March 12.

  Morton, Jelly Roll. LC ca. 1938 (transcript of interviews conducted at the Library of Congress; circulating photocopy with no transcriber named).

  Nelson, Louis. WRC ca. 1938, mss 519, folder 34 (interview for Jazzmen).

  Nicholas, Albert. HJA 1972, June 26.

  ———. WRC 1970, mss 519, folder 10.

  Noone, Jimmy. WRC 1938, November, mss 519, folder 24 (interview for Jazzmen; also in Dodds, John, WRC ca. 1938, mss 515, folder 28).

  Oliver, Francis. WRC n.d.

  Oliver, Joseph. WRC 1930, Feb. 15, mss 510, folder 507 (letter to Bunk Johnson).

  Oliver, Stella. HJA 1959, April 22.

  Ory, Kid. HJA 1958, Aug. 26 (interview with Manuel Manetta).

  ———. HJA 1957, April 20.

  ———. CJA n.d., John Steiner Collection, box 83, folder “Ory.”

  Palmer, Roy. HJA 1955, Sept. 22.

  Perez, Manuel. WRC ca. 1938, mss 519, folder 34 (interview for Jazzmen).

  Phillips, Babe. WRC n.d., mss 519, folder 1.

  Picou, Alphonse. WRC ca. 1938, mss 519, folder 34 (interview for Jazzmen).

  Randall, Willie. COHP 1971, Dec. 28 (interview with John Lax).

  Randolph, Zilner. IJS 1977, Feb. 20.

  ———. FDC 1973, April 19.

  Reeves, Reuben. FDC 1956, August.

  ———. IJS, Jazz Oral History Project, n.d.

  Reich, Howard. HJA 2001 (“The Louis Armstrong Tapes: The Thoroughly Human Side of a Jazz Virtuoso.” Typescript filed in vertical file “Ar
mstrong” and dated Sept. 4).

  Robinson, Ike. CJA 1988, July 17 and 25 (interview with Paige Van Vorst).

  ———. WRC 1969, April 23, mss 519, folder 1.

  ———. CJA 1961, Feb. 2 (interview with John Steiner).

  St. Cyr, John. WRC 1969, Jan. 31, mss 519, folders 53 and 55.

  ———. HJA 1958, Aug. 27.

  ———.WRC 1944, August, mss 519, folder 71.

  Samuels, William. COHP 1971 (interview with John Lax).

  Saunders, Red. COHP 1971, Dec. 24 (interview with John Lax).

  Sayles, Emanuel. HJA 1959, Jan. 17.

  Scott, Howard. IJS 1979, March 8.

  Scrapbooks 5, 6, and 83. LAHM (including newspaper clippings and publicity items).

  Shoffner, Bob. CJA 1973, Jan. 22, box 86, folder “Bob Shoffner” (interview with John Steiner).

  ———. HJA 1959, Sept. 8.

  ———. CJA 1958, September, box 86, folder “Bob Shoffner” (interview with John Steiner).

  Simeon, Omer. HJA 1955, Aug. 18.

  Singleton, Zutty. IJS 1975, May, Tapes 1–6, Jazz Oral History Project (with Mrs. Zutty Singleton).

  ———. HJA 1969, Feb. 2.

  ———. WRC ca. 1938, mss 519, folder 37 (interview for Jazzmen).

  ———. CJA n.d., box 78, folder “Louis Armstrong” (interview with John Steiner).

  Smith, Jabbo. IJS 1979, March 26.

  ———. HJA 1961, Oct. 15.

  Smith, Willie “The Lion.” WRC 1970, Dec. 23, mss 19, folder 2.

  Soper, Tut. CJA 1983, July 19 (interview with Wayne Jones and Warren Platt).

  Spanier, Muggsy. HJA 1961, Feb. 2.

  Tate, Erskine. CJA n.d., box 78, folder “Louis Armstrong” (interview with Charles Sengstock, notes taken by John Steiner).

  Valentine, Kid Thomas. HJA 1959, Nov. 8.

  Washington, Leon. COHP 1971 (interview with John Lax).

  ———. CJA 1965, March 28, box 87, folder “Leon Washington” (interview with John Steiner).

  Watts, Bob. HJA 1963, Feb. 28.

  Wettling, George. WRC ca. 1938, mss 519, folder 40 (interview for Jazzmen).

  Wiggs, Johnny. HJA 1962, Aug. 26.

  Williams, Alfred. HJA 1961, Feb. 3.

  Williams, Cootie. IJS 1976.

  Williams, Mayo. WRC 1970, Nov. 21, mss 519, folder 1.

  General Sources

  Abbott, Lynn. 2005. “Butterbeans and Susie.” Jazzbeat 16, nos. 3–4: 3–5.

  Abbott, Lynn, and Doug Seroff. 1996. “‘They Cert’ly Sound Good to Me’: Sheet Music, Southern Vaudeville, and the Commercial Ascendancy of the Blues.” American Music 14, no. 4 (Winter): 402–54.

  Albertson, Chris. 2003. Bessie. Revised and expanded edition. New Haven: Yale University Press.