Louis Armstrong was the first important soloist to emerge in jazz, and he became the most influential musician in the music's history.

As a trumpet virtuoso, his playing, beginning with the 1920s studio recordings made with his Hot Five and Hot Seven ensembles, charted a future for jazz in highly imaginative, emotionally charged improvisation. For this, he is revered by jazz fans. But Armstrong also became an enduring figure in popular music, due to his distinctively phrased bass singing and engaging personality, which were on display in a series of vocal recordings and film roles.

Louis Armstrong was embraced by two distinctly different audiences: jazz fans who revered him for his early innovations as an instrumentalist, but were occasionally embarrassed by his lack of interest in later developments in jazz and, especially, by his willingness to serve as a light entertainer; and pop fans, who delighted in his joyous performances, particularly as a vocalist, but were largely unaware of his significance as a jazz musician.

Given his popularity, his long career, and the extensive label-jumping he did in his later years, as well as the differing jazz and pop sides of his work, his recordings are extensive and diverse, with parts of his catalog owned by many different companies. But many of his recorded performances are masterpieces, and none are less than entertaining.

All Music Guide

Louis Armstrong
Daydream
I Believe
I Will Wait For You
Rosie
Step Down Brother, Next Case
Sunrise Sunset
Talk To The Animals
That's My Desire
The Gypsy In My Soul
The Happy Time
T'was The Night Before Christmas
Willkomen
You'll Never Walk Alone

Louis Armstrong (Live)
A Kiss To Build A Dream On (Live)
Bare Necessities (Live)
Hello Dolly (Live)
Mack The Knife (Live)
Mame (Live)
Rockin' Chair (Live)
That's My Desire (Live)
When It's Sleepy Time Down South (Live)
When The Saints Go Marching In (Live)