Louis Armstrong's Hot Five & Hot Seven Recordings

Softcover
186 pgs.
Oxford University Press, Publ.

These recordings mark the first revolution in the history of a music riven by upheaval. Through a careful analysis of seven seminal recordings, author Brian Harker recaptures the perspective of Armstrong's original audience without abandoning that of today's listeners. The world of vaudeville and show business provide crucial context, revealing how the demands of making a living in a competitive environment catalyzed Armstrong's unique artistic gifts. Invoking a range of influences from New Orleans clarinet style to Guy Lombardo, and from tap dancing to classical music, this book offers bold insights, fresh anecdotes, and a new interpretation of Louis Armstrong and his most influential body of work.