Louis Armstrong

Louis Armstrong

The greatest trumpet (and cornet) player of all time, one of the most influential musicians and singers of the twentieth century. He vies with Charlie Parker and John Coltrane as the greatest-ever jazzman.

Best period was from the mid 1920s until the early 1950s, after which his playing began to falter a little and he relied more on his singing and personality to continue his great popularity. His very best recordings are those of his Hot Five and Hot Seven in the 1920s and of his early 1930s big band (Louis was magnificent, which was just as well because the big band was often pretty ropey).