The significance of Louis Armstrong's contribution to Jazz.
By 1919 Marable's band had been joined by the young cornettist Louis Armstrong who was destined to become the most influential of all early Jazz performers. Armstrong's lowly background in New Orleans was typical of many first generation jazz musicians. Born in a slum, Louis gained his formative musical experiences in the bordellos of Storyville and by singing in street groups with friends. After Louis was released from being arrested he resolved to pursue a career as a musician and owed his initial success to the timely patronage of King Oliver.
Armstrong was faced with a new challenging task when he joined Oliver's band. In the New Orleans ensemble style it was difficult enough for the standard 3 instrument front line to create convincing polyphony; the addition of a fourth melodic strand, which Armstrong was asked to provide, caused further problems because his instrument was identical to Oliver's. This experience undoubtedly sharpened Armstrong's aural perception.
By 1919 Marable's band had been joined by the young cornettist Louis Armstrong who was destined to become the most influential of all early Jazz performers. Armstrong's lowly background in New Orleans was typical of many first generation jazz musicians. Born in a slum, Louis gained his formative musical experiences in the bordellos of Storyville and by singing in street groups with friends. After Louis was released from being arrested he resolved to pursue a career as a musician and owed his initial success to the timely patronage of King Oliver.
Armstrong was faced with a new challenging task when he joined Oliver's band. In the New Orleans ensemble style it was difficult enough for the standard 3 instrument front line to create convincing polyphony; the addition of a fourth melodic strand, which Armstrong was asked to provide, caused further problems because his instrument was identical to Oliver's. This experience undoubtedly sharpened Armstrong's aural perception.