https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWzrABouyeE The first song I listened to was the iconic “What A Wonderful World.” I really enjoy listening to this song when I want to sit back and relax. I usually listen to this tune before I go to bed. The song itself represents Armstrong’s views of the world and what he wants it to be. “The colors of the rainbow / So pretty in the sky / Are also on the faces / Of people passing by” shows that he wants a unified world together. Armstrong has a raspy voice that is soothing. Though this song is a very slow song, this is a great song to listen to when you feel relaxed. This is not a typical jazz song with the upbeat trumpet melody but a more softer, quieter version for people looking for relaxation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7ccXJ0Y-CI “Potato Head Blues” is another one of Louis Armstrong’s songs. It starts off with a trumpet solo with other instruments building on. This captures the style of jazz and something you would hear down in New Orleans. This song would fit perfectly into a Cajun-style restaurant. This song has no singing involved but the instrumentals in this song gives me the jazz style that Armstrong has. He captures the essence of jazz music with this song and proves that you don’t need singing to create a jazz masterpiece. The trumpets are the featured instrument in the song and that’s what jazz is all about.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Scd9WGDZog The last song I listened to was “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love.” From the get go, this song sounds like it would be a typical love song. To my surprise, it had a slow tempo, almost sort of depressing if I’m being honest. When Armstrong starts singing in the song, it sounds very passionate and slow, he emphasizes the last word of the sentence. The trumpet solo in the middle of the song captures the jazz style and something you would play in a high-end, fancy restaurant. Towards the ending of the song, the trumpet playing goes an octave higher each time after the drum beats. This song is not a typical upbeat jazz song but it does include the elements of what a jazz song really is.
The beginning of this song struck me as something that I’d expect to hear at a fancy diner: dainty instrumentals in the background, slow-paced rhythm, and, of course the Louis Armstrong’s characteristic vocals tying everything together. I didn’t really notice it before I learned more about him through articles and films but I could see how he was more of a soloist rather than collaborating in a collective improvisation by doing the lead singing and such. However, its seems that even though he was taking a more soloist approach the performance wouldn’t be complete without the accompaniment of the instruments, and I could hear the jazzy improvisation as well as his vocal improvisation through scat singing. The song finally ended with a crescendo of trumpets and scat singing which was then topped off with a sort of motorboat-type thing which I thought was a fun little twist to the performance.
What a Wonderful World-https://youtu.be/VqhCQZaH4Vs
“What a Wonderful World” has always been a favorite of mine regardless of who it was sung by. I’m used to listening to IZ’s version where he sung with a smooth, silky voice and a light ukulele accompaniment since that was what I was raised with, but when I listened to Armstrong’s performance of the song it still had the same kind of light, dreamy feel to it. The soft trumpets and drums in the background especially helped to establish a carefree, blissful feeling to the song and Armstrong’s raspy voice was an uncannily perfect fit for the song. Once again, I could see the soloist approach that he took to jazz and performing by taking up the role of lead singer with the instrumentals in the background.
Froggie Moore-https://youtu.be/VqhCQZaH4Vs
This song was not written or sung by Louis Armstrong, but rather written by Jelly Roll Morton and performed by the Oliver Band in which Armstrong was affiliated with in the 1920’s. During his time with the Oliver Band he played the cornet, which I could hear quite clearly in the audio even though the quality wasn’t the best. It’s got a very ragtime-y sort of style to it and is very upbeat. It’s something I’d expect to see people dancing to in an old jukebox cafe or to hear in a black and white silent film of some sorts. Although the tune is more of a ragtime composition I could tell hear some hints of improvisation and whatnot as if it was sort of the gray area between jazz and ragtime music.
https://youtu.be/_2fhRwAFA2Y “Cornet Chop Suey” highlights Louis Armstrong’s talent of playing the trumpet. He plays it in a way that mimics a person’s singing voice. The piano accompaniment is also nice, simple, but has the same feel as the trumpet. The trills and swinging rhythm Armstrong puts into his trumpet playing makes the song come to life and force your body into wanting to dance the night away. It’s easy to imagine a room full of people dancing to this song.
https://youtu.be/a_-fZxb0R9s Unlike the first song, “I Surrender Dear” is played in a minor key and has more of a “blues” feel to it. The woodwind instrument being used (I believe it is the oboe) has the same human-voice-mimicry as the trumpet did in “Cornet Chop Suey.” Armstrong’s voice sounds gravely, almost as if he has been shouting the whole day. Nevertheless, his voice is soothing while sounding like he is being forced to hold back bubbling emotions. The second half of “I Surrender Dear” transforms into a high tempo, dance song like “Cornet Chop Suey.” The trumpet makes a reappearance and is layered nicely with the oboe and drums. I can feel the conversation between instruments with this song.
https://youtu.be/aji3Kk_v14k “Jubilee” is different from the other two songs as there are more than two brass instruments. Another difference is Armstrong immediately starts the song off with some singing. However, he does begin to skillfully play his trumpet about 30 seconds into the song. The brass instruments seem to act like an echo for Armstrong’s trumpet and vice versa. Armstrong ends the note with an impressive, sustained high note on his trumpet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5EZXkC5Ve8 “Everybody loves my baby” starts off with Louis Armstrong playing the trumpet which he was greatly known for. It’s a really upbeat tune and I now understand why Armstrong was known for playing the trumpet. The first part of the song is only instrumentals mainly with Armstrong playing the trumpet, and around the halfway mark of the song, he starts to sing. This song has a very little amount of lyrics and after looking at them, I think that it shows the message of the song very well. Armstrong didn’t need to add many lyrics since the main message he got across was, “everybody loves my baby / But my baby don’t love nobody but me.” I think that those lines are very sweet and after these very few lyrics, he adds in more instrumentals to end the song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W232OsTAMo8 “West end blues” served as a notice that jazz music was able to compete with the other music during this time. While this song is another that is mainly instrumentals, it shows Louis Armstrong’s amazing musical talent on the trumpet. I really liked how this song started off with a really fast tempo and then it turned really slow. It was a sudden change that I found really interesting and these slow instrumentals continued throughout the song. While this song doesn’t really have any actual lyrics, there are a few parts where Armstrong is humming or sort of going along with the music. This song was very different compared to the other song that I listened and I thought that it was nice to see two different ways that Armstrong was able to make his music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7N2wssse14 “Hello Dolly” was one of Louis Armstrong’s most famous songs. This song shows Armstrong’s cheerfulness through his singing and the video that I watched of him, his smile could light up anyone’s face. This song shows off more of his singing while of course still showing off his trumpet skills. It has a really nice catchy beat and in the video I watched, he was able to get the whole audience clapping along to the song. While looking at the lyrics, it seems like he is seeing this person named Dolly and telling her to never go away. From what it seems, he had known her before and doesn’t want her to leave again. This song just sounds like a really cheerful catchy song which I think is why it’s one of Armstrong’s most known songs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWhJgZSa-8o The first music I chose in the Giddens piece on Louis Armstrong was "I Surrender Dear". The music starts off with a drench atmosphere, relating to the title of the piece. His musical talent is shown throughout the piece as there are variations and dynamics in the music. He only starts singing in the middle of the song which is very unusual. He introduced this music with a minute of his instrumental, which is why it was very emotionally satisfying to his audience. He drags the notes with both his vocals and his instrument. I really liked this piece, even though it was different from what I usually listen to.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W232OsTAMo8 In "West End Blues", his dramatic and rhythmic talents are notable. Along with the melody being very catchy, he has a powerful start to the piece. Very different from the previous one I chose, it has a more positive feeling to the song as it is not as droopy. The transformation in jazz that Armstrong went through can be seen clearly. Again, he begins humming and murmuring in the middle of the song. Very different from the singing today, he shows the diverse and different way of showing his music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlhNDaP_ZFI "Froggie Moore" was the last song I chose. This piece was performed by King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band and was a tune composed by Jelly Roll Morton. This music is upbeat throughout the whole song, which is very different from the two previous songs. While the two songs before had ups and downs in the melody, this music is composed of only upbeat and high notes. I personally liked this one the best out of all the three choices. I also realized this piece had no lyrics included which gave it a more jazzy feeling, in my opinion.
https://youtu.be/4WPCBieSESI I listened to “West End Blues” by Louis Armstrong. It starts off with Armstrong playing a trumpet solo, then a pianist joins in. This song revolves around the trumpet because that is what he was known for. The soothing tune of the trumpet blends well with the rest of the instruments that were played. Later throughout the song, Armstrong begins to add his own voice which adds his own style to it. The soft rhythm allows for the song to make you feel calmer.
https://youtu.be/0vpuFYQwZ5o “Muskrat Ramble” by Louis Armstrong starts off with the bang of the drum. Unlike the song before, this song is upbeat and more intense. The trumpet is still the center of attention with its perfect blending with the other instruments. In the middle, the different instruments had solos. This is the type of song someone can dance too mainly due to the tempo and variety in instruments. Towards the ending of the song, a trumpeter had a solo and it was followed up by the band singing words, which was not common.
https://youtu.be/IvqxedEuoj8 “Heebie Jeebies” is another song by Louis Armstrong. It starts off slowly with only the respecting sounds of a piano, then Armstrong joins in with his trumpet. For the entirety of the song, the instrumental are mellow. Towards the ending, Armstrong begins to scat, where he inserts nonsense syllables in pace of lyrics. The use of scatting allows for the song to feel more well rounded and complete. Without the scatting, this composition sounds like an ordinary trumpet piece.
I listened to “Sugar Foot Stomp” by Fletcher Henderson. It’s an upbeat groovy jazz song that could very well be banned to all night long in a club. Each instrument is highlighted at least once in the song with the new impromptu style that is jazz. Piano, trumpet, trombone, clarinet, and a few words of Henderson almost makes this song an orchestra of dance music. The musics play together but never completely unified. There’s a differ attitude, tone, or style with each musician and that’s what makes this song so complete.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WPCBieSESI
I listened to “West End Blues” by Louis Armstrong. It was a bit misleading but I guess was a signature of Armstrong. The song started with a strong trumpet solo but instantly transitioned to a mellow slowed jazz song. The trumpet was quieter and calmer as were the other instruments. This song differs from “Sugar Foot Stomp” as it included I think Armstrong’s voice in it for a good portion of the song. A melodic la di da was sung to accompany a low flute instrument. It then leaded into a piano solo that almost resembled chirping birds. It was so light and warm. It was a romantic song that could definitely be played at a ball.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7FhrQ-mEDo
I then listened to “Sittin’ in the Dark” by Louis Armstrong. It starts with his signature trumpet but was surprised to hear Armstrong’s soft voice singing. His voice fluctuates and flows as the instruments roughly match his tone. You’d imagine such a rich and rough voice to be unsettling. But, his rough voice blends perfectly with the melodic music. His voice despite being rough and harsh, is very flexible and bends in anyway he’d want it to. The clarinet and trumpet go back in forth in a solo. Unlike a solo competition, the instruments almost intertwined around each other to create a beautiful pair.
The first song that I listened to was “I Surrender Dear,” which is a really slow and calming song at the beginning. The instrumental at the start of the song really reminded me of elevator music. At first I was not expecting there to be vocals but when it started the raspy but soothing vocals really portrayed the message of the song. Near the middle of the song, the beat starts to pick up and turns out to be a exciting and fast paced song. Overall, I found this song very interesting and exciting to listen to.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=aji3Kk_v14k The song “Jubilee” is very different compared to “I Surrender Dear,” this song is very fast from the beginning and vocals start very early on as well. This song was very upbeat and fit in with the vibe of the “roaring twenties.” I really liked this song because there was an instrumental that featured a trumpet and it clearly showed the tone of the song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=YtzhBT4ICNI “Cake Walking Babies from Home” The vocals of this song is very different compared to other songs I have listened to in the past. Her voice, kind of reminded me of a cartoon character’s voice singing. Overall, I enjoyed this song because of vocals and instrumentals that gave off a carefree vibe. What I found interesting about all of these songs is that majority of the song is instruments, and there are only a few sentences within the entire song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3yCcXgbKrE The first song I chose by Louis Armstrong is the infamous song “What A Wonderful World.” Something that I made this song so famous over the years is the theme of it. It just makes you so happy when you listen to it. You can’t help but feel relaxed and at peace when it plays. Something else that makes this song unique and popular is Louis Armstrong’s voice itself. It has such a unique tone and the raspiness of his voice is something you can’t miss. This song has a slow melody which makes it calming to listen to. It is interesting to think of this song as a jazz song, because before I had no idea that this is the genre it fell under. I can see how much of a contribution that Louis Armstrong made to the industry.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W232OsTAMo8 The second song I chose to listen to by Louis Armstrong was “West End Blues.” It starts off with the sound of a trumpet which apparently is a Louis Armstrong staple. It is actually quite a long trumpet solo introduction into the song. This song reminds me of New Orleans. I can see it being played as part of the soundtrack for Princess and the Frog. The piano is also a key instrument in this performance. There isn’t too much singing in this song. It’s more for the instruments to shine I think. I know that Louis Armstrong was very talented in this area as well so perhaps this song is him showing off his talents. The tune of this song is not as upbeat and positive as the previous song but it was still enjoyable to listen to.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aji3Kk_v14k The third song I wanted to listen to was “Jubilee.” This song is interesting because it starts off with the drums playing. However, then the trumpets have their moment and the song begins. Armstrong’s voice is so unique I can’t explain it. He has a low, but raspy, but upbeat voice. His range is incredible. He can reach such a low pitch. Once again, the trumpet is probably the star instrument in this song. It has its own solo which is possibly one of the reasons you can tell if it's an Armstrong song (that or his voice, probably this choice). This song is definitely being overpowered by instruments. There isn't too much singing going on. However, I forgot that with jazz songs, it is very popular for people to dance to. So that’s why many of the jazz songs are more strictly instrumental.
The first Louis Armstrong song I listened to was “West End Blues” released in 1928. The song begins with a brief 13 second trumpet solo that’s more on the faster side and has a little bit of that military horn flare. The song then mellows out and the trumpet becomes accompanied by the soft sounds of the piano, other trumpets and what sounds like another deeper woodwind instrument. There is a portion of the song that features a bell sound in the background that sounds like horseshoes hitting the ground or railroad nails being hit into place. Once the bells stop Louis begins to hum and sing the words “wadadadadeedaa”. It sounds like he is tryna imitate the sound his trumpet makes by using his voice. Once Louis stops singing a piano solo starts which is then followed by more trumpets playing. The song reminds me of something you would listen to while reading the morning paper, getting ready to start your day. It starts off faster grabbing your attention then mellows down quite a bit and then slightly picks up again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ts1qTynO1zg
The second Armstrong song I listened to was “Blueberry Hill”. This is one of Louis' songs where he mainly sings. The song is opened by a group of trumpets which set up the mood of the song. As soon as Armstrong starts to sing his voice makes you feel light and happy like all your worries have gone away. His unique voice is unmistakable and always has a soothing familiar feel to it. There are some parts in the song where a choir is featured to sing the chorus. The song is very calm and easy going and is supper easy to relax and vibe too. The song's lyrics have some sad elements but are mainly happy and optimistic. They talk about love, dreams coming true, and finding the thrill in life.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_-fZxb0R9s
The final Louis Arstrong song I listened to was “I Surrender Dear”. This is another one of his hybrid songs where he plays the trumpet and sings. The song itself is split into two different parts. In part one the first 2 minutes or so of the song is Louis playing his trumpet accompanied by the piano and other instrumentals in the background. Louis is playing his trumpet in a very sensual, soothing and almost erotic way. The song is definitely very calming and slow and the combo of the trumpet/clarinet and Armstrongs singing voice work perfectly together. After a while Louis starts singing, my favorite parts of his singing were his deeper notes that almost put me to sleep. In part 2 the song picks up a lot and becomes much more energetic and upbeat. The trumpet and clarinet start to play much faster and drums start to play with repetitive taps of the symbol. The song now feels like a dancing song and makes you feel energetic and vibrant. Part 2 is all instrumental and ends with a bang
I Surrender Dear Armstrong had a long solo, the song is slow. Armstrong has a way of singing that’s different. He sings like he plays his trumpet. Kind of slurs his words can really hear the desperation in his singing then follows back up with his trumpet it's a slow song with sounded like an orchestra in the background
One of these days https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KF7-xh8Ai1c
Has an upbeat beginning, comes in repeating words sings with a trumpet playing with him then goes on with a trumpet solo the trumpet continues to hit high notes with it’s solo that works really well with the other instruments then other instruments get a turn of having their short solos taking turns at leading the song. Then the trumpet comes back and has its solo singing as if it had a mind of its own. This music is very good for dancing with its upbeat rhythm then at the end the long note he held down really stuck to me at the end
I Can’t Give You Anything But Love https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xj_9sXa4wU Starts off with armstrong playing the trumpet then the orchestra follows then armstrong begins his singing his voice matches the music very well , he has a unique way a singing then continues with his trumpet solo and his famous high notes his trumpet playing sounds just as good as his singing then then you can hear a saxophone and a clarinet taking turns as he continues to sing. I really like the mix of instrument solos and his singing makes it fun to listen to has
West End Blues West End Blues is played at a pretty slow 84 BPM, but the energy infused into it by Armstrong’s trumpet prowess never bore the audience. There are no real lyrics to the song, just a slow scat break in the middle. The scat break is slow and melodic too, a perfect compliment to the song. The song almost tells a story, completely without words. It feels like a day in the life told through music. The beginning trumpet feels like a stroll towards one’s workplace. The cowbell added in the second portion mimics a train going by or the hard beats of manuel labour. The scat break gives the feeling like one’s taking a walk through town as people talk amongst themselves. The piano added in the next section gives the feeling that one has taken a break at a bar and is listening to that nights entertainment as the day winds down. It’s beautiful story telling without ever speaking a word.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpmcanGouw4
Sugar Foot Stomp “Sugar Foot Stomp” is much faster than “West End Blues”, around 199 BPM. It feels like a proper dancing song, something you could imagine clubs would play as customers danced along together. The trumpet is once again phenomenal, fast and loose yet still perfectly matched to the rest of the instruments. There seems to be a section in the middle that’s almost call and response where the rest of the music plays in the breaks of a trumpet solo, almost like the rest of the band is responding to Armstrong’s call.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7N2wssse14 Hello Dolly Unlike the other songs, “Hello Dolly” includes some of Armstrong’s vocals. His voice is very earthly, almost guttural, yet with so much passion. It feels like he’s pushing the lyrics out of his throat, but their so stuck in there that he has to put twice the passion and heart into them to even convince them to leave his mouth. The trumpet he plays is so different from his voice, it’s light and sharp, seemingly other worldly, while his voice is human and deep and so completely Earthly bound. Some of his words are so muddled by his accent, you only get the emotion instead of the words.
The first song that I did was “Blueberry Hill”. I thought that Armstrong in the recording was a little older, despite this he still had the same characteristics in his voice. He his voice had a very smooth cracking to it and was very pleasing to listen to. I noticed that the started off very slow with a short piano solo followed by calm tone in his voice. Followed this was a trombone responding to every line. I really thought the song was really soothing and really nice to listen to.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WPCBieSESI The next song that I listened to “West End Blues”. I thought that this song actually had done the opposite of the other song which was it started off a lot faster and got slower overtime. What was very noticeable during the song was that there were no lyrics to the song. Honestly, I did not like it very much and it felt really slow and was expecting. The high pitch trumpet playing of Armstrong which I really loved and missed in this song. I thought that that during the song I noticed usually there was a solo instrument followed by a reply by all of the other instruments, almost like a drum circle or a singing circle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1v3-PGi-7I Lastly I listened to “Julibee”. I enjoyed this song a lot more because it had the trumpet high pitch tunes that Armstrong is known for. I think it was a snare drum in the beginning which I hadn’t heard is the past other songs. In this song It was a lot more of a Happier tune and was a lot more enjoyable to listen to. I really liked the way that Armstrong was able to use the trumpet as a way to speak. The trumpet really sounded like it was saying tunes with it snarls and vibrations.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UofL8pD69co “Hotter than That” is an instrumental track produced in 1927. It offers great examples of Armstrong’s signature trumpet improvisation. The rhythmic patterns are complex and unusual, incorporating the innovations of swing. Armstrong also shares his trumpet flourishes with the clarinet, piano and guitar lines that back him up, creating the impression that the instruments are communicating with one another. “Hotter than That” is lively and energetic and showcases Armstrong’s musicality.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IvqxedEuoj8 “Heebie Jeebies” starts off with a chorus of instruments playing over each other, before Armstrong begins to sing about halfway through. The lyrics talk about a dance called the Heebie Jeebies, that people do because it pleases them to “be joy.” Therefore, it becomes clear that having the Heebie Jeebies is an expression of feeling joyful, a sentiment the song effectively conveys. The woodwind and string lines from his Big Five perform their own verses before Armstrong himself, so the song offers a satisfying contrast between human and instrument voices.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bmXZNbXvjYk “Skip the Gutter” is another instrumental by Armstrong and His Hot Five. Like in “Hotter than That,” Armstrong sings with his trumpet throughout this track, and his improvisation relates an emotionality that is normally only achieved with the voice. The accompaniment initially consists of long, drawn out notes from other brass instruments but soon shifts to piano runs that mimic what’s happening on Armstrong’s trumpet. With a more laid-back mood than the other two tracks listed here, “Skip the Gutter” is both powerful and calming.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fYPnOcFeCIM The first Louis Armstrong song that I listened to was “West end blues”. This is a song that is just straight smooth form the jump. It has some parts where it is the higher tones of the instruments, but it still feels smooth. While it is not particularly upbeat it is also not a sad song, it is something that you just kind of listen to and feel. It is somewhat indescribable which makes it even better and just shows how powerful of a song it really is. It also does not have any lyrics in the song, you are just left alone with your thoughts and the beautiful sound of the music.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=67O4bMFRM4Y The second song that I listened to was “You rascal you”. This song has a more upbeat tone to it with the faster tempo and the higher pitch of the instruments. It also has vocals from Louis Armstrong and Louis Jordan. Louis Jordan’s voice is very smooth and it is cool how it is contrasted with Armstrong’s voice which is a lot harsher than the former. Even though his voice is harsher it still somehow compliments Jordan’s voice. It is also odd because it just feels like Armstrong’s voice is still smooth in a way.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=67O4bMFRM4Y The final song that I listened to was “Sittin in the dark”. This song was a slightly slower tempo song, but still maintained a medium speed. It also had the high tones to fill in the spots where Armstrong wasn’t singing which give the song a happier feeling. This song does also have vocals from Armstrong, but the majority of it is just him playing his instrument. Like I said before, his voice is harsh yet smooth at the same time in this song and you just have to appreciate the sound for what it is.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFFM4dxC1kk “What A Wonderful World”
This song is a very beautiful tune. The instrumentals and melody really match the lyrics. Armstrong’s message of positivity and love in the world has inspired people for decades. Armstrong’s raspy voice is very relaxing and makes this song wonderful.
This song is has an upbeat tempo and is a very busy tune. There are multiple solo sections across the tune. There are no lyrics to the tune, only instruments. The melody has a good feeling to it and makes you want to tap your foot to it. Across each solo there are recurring melodic themes that run through the tune.
Armstrong sings about his troubles of finding love. It isn’t a completely sad song, but more of melancholy. Armstrong plays his trumpet and sings with an interesting rhythm; he pauses and holds notes where you don’t think he will. Unlike “My Heart”, the background instrumentals are very quiet, making Armstrong’s vocals and trumpet the predominant sound.
The first song I chose was Dream a Little Dream of Me. It starts off with a trumpet solo which easily catches you attention. It’s followed by Ella Fitzgerald’s soothing voice. The song in general is ethereal and dreamy like the title suggests. After her section, Louis’ raspy, earthy voice brings you back to earth and grounds the song. Overall its a beautiful song that makes you smile with its sharp instruments and the smooth sound of the singers’ voices.
The second song I chose was Jubilee. This song starts off with drums and from the start has a more upbeat and dance type of feeling to it. He sings of being happy and watching the blues go away. It has a different feel from the first song but his voice retains its unique form and sound that captivates listeners. There is a trumpet solo in the middle which pierces through the melody in a refreshing way like lemon zest on a cheesecake.
The last song I chose was West End Blues. This song starts off with a faster trumpet solo that slows down and is joined by another instrument. They respond to each other as if its a conversation for the rest of the song. Towards the end there is a piano solo that emerges from the smooth sound of the trumpets. It’s as if it interrupts, bursts into its own little tangent and then leaves the song. The trumpets return with a sweeter sound and blend together to end the song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3yCcXgbKrE The first song I listened to was “What a Wonderful World”. This song is uplifting and hopeful giving happiness to anyone who listens to it. I have listened to other renditions of this song but there is something captivating about the way Armstrong performs this song. There are very strong feelings of nostalgia and personally, I thought of my childhood and playing in my neighborhood as a child. The lyrics in the song talk about harmony and the beautiful world we live in. There is a soft background piano but the song is dominated by Louis voice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYPnOcFeCIM The second song I listened to was “West end blues”. This was a classic bluesy style song that had no lyrics but Armstrong works his magic and sings with his trumpet and the song that he sings is sad and retrospective thinking about the past. My favorite part was near the end when Armstrong has a solo filled with high notes that really captured my attention. There are also a clarinet as well as background instruments that make the song smooth and continuous. It reminds me of the music in classic movies that play when something bad has happened.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAlrpx40UnE The third song I listened to was “Hotter than that”. This song was another instrumental with Armstrongs trumpet starring in solos for the majority of the song. It is a fast paced song that I can imagine being played at a dinner party in the 30’s or a dance party. This song provides a lot of energy because of the fast pace of Armstrong’s trumpet and he also scats for a portion of the song. This gives it an improvisational feel that makes it very interesting.
Jubilee https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1v3-PGi-7I The first song i chose is called “Jubilee.” This song’s pace is set immediately upon its start, opening with a fast paced pattering of drums. A few seconds into the drumroll, comes in trumpets playing higher pitched sounds altogether. It sounds like a celebration at first, like a festival of some sort. This makes sense because the song is called Jubilee, which is like an anniversary. This song talks about everyone being welcome to join the fun of this joyful celebration vibe. After the first verse, there is a trumpet solo with some longer held notes. This song exudes happy vibes and my appreciation for the trumpet also has grown after listening to this... there is so much emotion that goes into playing the trumpet solo here, you can definitely feel the levels of happiness that were flowing through the trumpet player ..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WPCBieSESI\ The second song I chose was “West End Blues.” This song opens with a trumpet solo, but dont be fooled, it doesn’t vibrate the same happy sound as you get further into the song as “Jubilee” did. It’s actually kinda cool how an instrument as loud and high pitched as a trumpet can be played in such a way to give off a completely different vibe. The piano sets a background pace, but it also has a somewhat lagging feel to it. All the horns that overlay each other once the piano comes in definitely sets the scene for what it’s titled, blues (like sad style blues). The notes often are okayed downward, so the sound gets lower, producing a sad overall sound.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-6mqkFI-oA The last song I chose is called “Blueberry Hill.” As soon as I started playing the song, I thought, “wow, this guy really plays all sorts of vibes.” Armstrong doesn’t just stick to one style of song, or one mood, he seems to play the field and as a result, there is a lot of diversity in each of his songs. Anyways, this song has a mellow, steady pace, which is perfectly complemented by Louis’s recognizable voice. The soft playing of the horn in the background is very soothing as well. One and, two and, three and, is what the tempo seems like. His emotion is always able to be heard through his powerful voice. Throughout the song, towards the end, the song climaxes and he lets out a final medium volumes yell.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKCJHzWi7Ho The trumpet played by Louis Armstrong is the lead in "Mabel's Dream." All the other instruments are being played at different rhythms, but they knit together to create the syncopation to back the trumpet. "Mabel's Dream" has a distinctive melody. I would recognize it if I heard it playing out in public somewhere. It also reminded me a bit of some Jim Croce songs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUMzGS6zz84 In "Yellow Dog Blues" Louis Armstrong sings, and also plays trumpet at the end. His voice sounds like another instrument because it was so unique. Also, I think his voice was kind of an extension of his trumpet. He blends jazz and blues in this song, which at the time probably brought blues to a wider audience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28ULUQgxJ5M "Mack the Knife" is fun song, that I bet kids probably liked back when it came out. It's about a murderer named Mack. In the passage we read, it mentioned that Louis Armstrong probably drew on his experiences growing up in a red light district when writing "Mack the Knife."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWzrABouyeE
ReplyDeleteThe first song I listened to was the iconic “What A Wonderful World.” I really enjoy listening to this song when I want to sit back and relax. I usually listen to this tune before I go to bed. The song itself represents Armstrong’s views of the world and what he wants it to be. “The colors of the rainbow / So pretty in the sky / Are also on the faces / Of people passing by” shows that he wants a unified world together. Armstrong has a raspy voice that is soothing. Though this song is a very slow song, this is a great song to listen to when you feel relaxed. This is not a typical jazz song with the upbeat trumpet melody but a more softer, quieter version for people looking for relaxation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7ccXJ0Y-CI
“Potato Head Blues” is another one of Louis Armstrong’s songs. It starts off with a trumpet solo with other instruments building on. This captures the style of jazz and something you would hear down in New Orleans. This song would fit perfectly into a Cajun-style restaurant. This song has no singing involved but the instrumentals in this song gives me the jazz style that Armstrong has. He captures the essence of jazz music with this song and proves that you don’t need singing to create a jazz masterpiece. The trumpets are the featured instrument in the song and that’s what jazz is all about.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Scd9WGDZog
The last song I listened to was “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love.” From the get go, this song sounds like it would be a typical love song. To my surprise, it had a slow tempo, almost sort of depressing if I’m being honest. When Armstrong starts singing in the song, it sounds very passionate and slow, he emphasizes the last word of the sentence. The trumpet solo in the middle of the song captures the jazz style and something you would play in a high-end, fancy restaurant. Towards the ending of the song, the trumpet playing goes an octave higher each time after the drum beats. This song is not a typical upbeat jazz song but it does include the elements of what a jazz song really is.
Blueberry Hill-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ts1qTynO1zg
ReplyDeleteThe beginning of this song struck me as something that I’d expect to hear at a fancy diner: dainty instrumentals in the background, slow-paced rhythm, and, of course the Louis Armstrong’s characteristic vocals tying everything together. I didn’t really notice it before I learned more about him through articles and films but I could see how he was more of a soloist rather than collaborating in a collective improvisation by doing the lead singing and such. However, its seems that even though he was taking a more soloist approach the performance wouldn’t be complete without the accompaniment of the instruments, and I could hear the jazzy improvisation as well as his vocal improvisation through scat singing. The song finally ended with a crescendo of trumpets and scat singing which was then topped off with a sort of motorboat-type thing which I thought was a fun little twist to the performance.
What a Wonderful World-https://youtu.be/VqhCQZaH4Vs
“What a Wonderful World” has always been a favorite of mine regardless of who it was sung by. I’m used to listening to IZ’s version where he sung with a smooth, silky voice and a light ukulele accompaniment since that was what I was raised with, but when I listened to Armstrong’s performance of the song it still had the same kind of light, dreamy feel to it. The soft trumpets and drums in the background especially helped to establish a carefree, blissful feeling to the song and Armstrong’s raspy voice was an uncannily perfect fit for the song. Once again, I could see the soloist approach that he took to jazz and performing by taking up the role of lead singer with the instrumentals in the background.
Froggie Moore-https://youtu.be/VqhCQZaH4Vs
This song was not written or sung by Louis Armstrong, but rather written by Jelly Roll Morton and performed by the Oliver Band in which Armstrong was affiliated with in the 1920’s. During his time with the Oliver Band he played the cornet, which I could hear quite clearly in the audio even though the quality wasn’t the best. It’s got a very ragtime-y sort of style to it and is very upbeat. It’s something I’d expect to see people dancing to in an old jukebox cafe or to hear in a black and white silent film of some sorts. Although the tune is more of a ragtime composition I could tell hear some hints of improvisation and whatnot as if it was sort of the gray area between jazz and ragtime music.
https://youtu.be/_2fhRwAFA2Y
ReplyDelete“Cornet Chop Suey” highlights Louis Armstrong’s talent of playing the trumpet. He plays it in a way that mimics a person’s singing voice. The piano accompaniment is also nice, simple, but has the same feel as the trumpet. The trills and swinging rhythm Armstrong puts into his trumpet playing makes the song come to life and force your body into wanting to dance the night away. It’s easy to imagine a room full of people dancing to this song.
https://youtu.be/a_-fZxb0R9s
Unlike the first song, “I Surrender Dear” is played in a minor key and has more of a “blues” feel to it. The woodwind instrument being used (I believe it is the oboe) has the same human-voice-mimicry as the trumpet did in “Cornet Chop Suey.” Armstrong’s voice sounds gravely, almost as if he has been shouting the whole day. Nevertheless, his voice is soothing while sounding like he is being forced to hold back bubbling emotions. The second half of “I Surrender Dear” transforms into a high tempo, dance song like “Cornet Chop Suey.” The trumpet makes a reappearance and is layered nicely with the oboe and drums. I can feel the conversation between instruments with this song.
https://youtu.be/aji3Kk_v14k
“Jubilee” is different from the other two songs as there are more than two brass instruments. Another difference is Armstrong immediately starts the song off with some singing. However, he does begin to skillfully play his trumpet about 30 seconds into the song. The brass instruments seem to act like an echo for Armstrong’s trumpet and vice versa. Armstrong ends the note with an impressive, sustained high note on his trumpet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5EZXkC5Ve8
ReplyDelete“Everybody loves my baby” starts off with Louis Armstrong playing the trumpet which he was greatly known for. It’s a really upbeat tune and I now understand why Armstrong was known for playing the trumpet. The first part of the song is only instrumentals mainly with Armstrong playing the trumpet, and around the halfway mark of the song, he starts to sing. This song has a very little amount of lyrics and after looking at them, I think that it shows the message of the song very well. Armstrong didn’t need to add many lyrics since the main message he got across was, “everybody loves my baby / But my baby don’t love nobody but me.” I think that those lines are very sweet and after these very few lyrics, he adds in more instrumentals to end the song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W232OsTAMo8
“West end blues” served as a notice that jazz music was able to compete with the other music during this time. While this song is another that is mainly instrumentals, it shows Louis Armstrong’s amazing musical talent on the trumpet. I really liked how this song started off with a really fast tempo and then it turned really slow. It was a sudden change that I found really interesting and these slow instrumentals continued throughout the song. While this song doesn’t really have any actual lyrics, there are a few parts where Armstrong is humming or sort of going along with the music. This song was very different compared to the other song that I listened and I thought that it was nice to see two different ways that Armstrong was able to make his music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7N2wssse14
“Hello Dolly” was one of Louis Armstrong’s most famous songs. This song shows Armstrong’s cheerfulness through his singing and the video that I watched of him, his smile could light up anyone’s face. This song shows off more of his singing while of course still showing off his trumpet skills. It has a really nice catchy beat and in the video I watched, he was able to get the whole audience clapping along to the song. While looking at the lyrics, it seems like he is seeing this person named Dolly and telling her to never go away. From what it seems, he had known her before and doesn’t want her to leave again. This song just sounds like a really cheerful catchy song which I think is why it’s one of Armstrong’s most known songs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWhJgZSa-8o
ReplyDeleteThe first music I chose in the Giddens piece on Louis Armstrong was "I Surrender Dear". The music starts off with a drench atmosphere, relating to the title of the piece. His musical talent is shown throughout the piece as there are variations and dynamics in the music. He only starts singing in the middle of the song which is very unusual. He introduced this music with a minute of his instrumental, which is why it was very emotionally satisfying to his audience. He drags the notes with both his vocals and his instrument. I really liked this piece, even though it was different from what I usually listen to.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W232OsTAMo8
In "West End Blues", his dramatic and rhythmic talents are notable. Along with the melody being very catchy, he has a powerful start to the piece. Very different from the previous one I chose, it has a more positive feeling to the song as it is not as droopy. The transformation in jazz that Armstrong went through can be seen clearly. Again, he begins humming and murmuring in the middle of the song. Very different from the singing today, he shows the diverse and different way of showing his music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlhNDaP_ZFI
"Froggie Moore" was the last song I chose. This piece was performed by King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band and was a tune composed by Jelly Roll Morton. This music is upbeat throughout the whole song, which is very different from the two previous songs. While the two songs before had ups and downs in the melody, this music is composed of only upbeat and high notes. I personally liked this one the best out of all the three choices. I also realized this piece had no lyrics included which gave it a more jazzy feeling, in my opinion.
https://youtu.be/4WPCBieSESI
ReplyDeleteI listened to “West End Blues” by Louis Armstrong. It starts off with Armstrong playing a trumpet solo, then a pianist joins in. This song revolves around the trumpet because that is what he was known for. The soothing tune of the trumpet blends well with the rest of the instruments that were played. Later throughout the song, Armstrong begins to add his own voice which adds his own style to it. The soft rhythm allows for the song to make you feel calmer.
https://youtu.be/0vpuFYQwZ5o
“Muskrat Ramble” by Louis Armstrong starts off with the bang of the drum. Unlike the song before, this song is upbeat and more intense. The trumpet is still the center of attention with its perfect blending with the other instruments. In the middle, the different instruments had solos. This is the type of song someone can dance too mainly due to the tempo and variety in instruments. Towards the ending of the song, a trumpeter had a solo and it was followed up by the band singing words, which was not common.
https://youtu.be/IvqxedEuoj8
“Heebie Jeebies” is another song by Louis Armstrong. It starts off slowly with only the respecting sounds of a piano, then Armstrong joins in with his trumpet. For the entirety of the song, the instrumental are mellow. Towards the ending, Armstrong begins to scat, where he inserts nonsense syllables in pace of lyrics. The use of scatting allows for the song to feel more well rounded and complete. Without the scatting, this composition sounds like an ordinary trumpet piece.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjEiyhESlh4
ReplyDeleteI listened to “Sugar Foot Stomp” by Fletcher Henderson. It’s an upbeat groovy jazz song that could very well be banned to all night long in a club. Each instrument is highlighted at least once in the song with the new impromptu style that is jazz. Piano, trumpet, trombone, clarinet, and a few words of Henderson almost makes this song an orchestra of dance music. The musics play together but never completely unified. There’s a differ attitude, tone, or style with each musician and that’s what makes this song so complete.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WPCBieSESI
I listened to “West End Blues” by Louis Armstrong. It was a bit misleading but I guess was a signature of Armstrong. The song started with a strong trumpet solo but instantly transitioned to a mellow slowed jazz song. The trumpet was quieter and calmer as were the other instruments. This song differs from “Sugar Foot Stomp” as it included I think Armstrong’s voice in it for a good portion of the song. A melodic la di da was sung to accompany a low flute instrument. It then leaded into a piano solo that almost resembled chirping birds. It was so light and warm. It was a romantic song that could definitely be played at a ball.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7FhrQ-mEDo
I then listened to “Sittin’ in the Dark” by Louis Armstrong. It starts with his signature trumpet but was surprised to hear Armstrong’s soft voice singing. His voice fluctuates and flows as the instruments roughly match his tone. You’d imagine such a rich and rough voice to be unsettling. But, his rough voice blends perfectly with the melodic music. His voice despite being rough and harsh, is very flexible and bends in anyway he’d want it to. The clarinet and trumpet go back in forth in a solo. Unlike a solo competition, the instruments almost intertwined around each other to create a beautiful pair.
The first song that I listened to was “I Surrender Dear,” which is a really slow and calming song at the beginning. The instrumental at the start of the song really reminded me of elevator music. At first I was not expecting there to be vocals but when it started the raspy but soothing vocals really portrayed the message of the song. Near the middle of the song, the beat starts to pick up and turns out to be a exciting and fast paced song. Overall, I found this song very interesting and exciting to listen to.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=aji3Kk_v14k
The song “Jubilee” is very different compared to “I Surrender Dear,” this song is very fast from the beginning and vocals start very early on as well. This song was very upbeat and fit in with the vibe of the “roaring twenties.” I really liked this song because there was an instrumental that featured a trumpet and it clearly showed the tone of the song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=YtzhBT4ICNI
“Cake Walking Babies from Home”
The vocals of this song is very different compared to other songs I have listened to in the past. Her voice, kind of reminded me of a cartoon character’s voice singing. Overall, I enjoyed this song because of vocals and instrumentals that gave off a carefree vibe. What I found interesting about all of these songs is that majority of the song is instruments, and there are only a few sentences within the entire song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3yCcXgbKrE
ReplyDeleteThe first song I chose by Louis Armstrong is the infamous song “What A Wonderful World.” Something that I made this song so famous over the years is the theme of it. It just makes you so happy when you listen to it. You can’t help but feel relaxed and at peace when it plays. Something else that makes this song unique and popular is Louis Armstrong’s voice itself. It has such a unique tone and the raspiness of his voice is something you can’t miss. This song has a slow melody which makes it calming to listen to. It is interesting to think of this song as a jazz song, because before I had no idea that this is the genre it fell under. I can see how much of a contribution that Louis Armstrong made to the industry.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W232OsTAMo8
The second song I chose to listen to by Louis Armstrong was “West End Blues.” It starts off with the sound of a trumpet which apparently is a Louis Armstrong staple. It is actually quite a long trumpet solo introduction into the song. This song reminds me of New Orleans. I can see it being played as part of the soundtrack for Princess and the Frog. The piano is also a key instrument in this performance. There isn’t too much singing in this song. It’s more for the instruments to shine I think. I know that Louis Armstrong was very talented in this area as well so perhaps this song is him showing off his talents. The tune of this song is not as upbeat and positive as the previous song but it was still enjoyable to listen to.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aji3Kk_v14k
The third song I wanted to listen to was “Jubilee.” This song is interesting because it starts off with the drums playing. However, then the trumpets have their moment and the song begins. Armstrong’s voice is so unique I can’t explain it. He has a low, but raspy, but upbeat voice. His range is incredible. He can reach such a low pitch. Once again, the trumpet is probably the star instrument in this song. It has its own solo which is possibly one of the reasons you can tell if it's an Armstrong song (that or his voice, probably this choice). This song is definitely being overpowered by instruments. There isn't too much singing going on. However, I forgot that with jazz songs, it is very popular for people to dance to. So that’s why many of the jazz songs are more strictly instrumental.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WPCBieSESI
ReplyDeleteThe first Louis Armstrong song I listened to was “West End Blues” released in 1928. The song begins with a brief 13 second trumpet solo that’s more on the faster side and has a little bit of that military horn flare. The song then mellows out and the trumpet becomes accompanied by the soft sounds of the piano, other trumpets and what sounds like another deeper woodwind instrument. There is a portion of the song that features a bell sound in the background that sounds like horseshoes hitting the ground or railroad nails being hit into place. Once the bells stop Louis begins to hum and sing the words “wadadadadeedaa”. It sounds like he is tryna imitate the sound his trumpet makes by using his voice. Once Louis stops singing a piano solo starts which is then followed by more trumpets playing. The song reminds me of something you would listen to while reading the morning paper, getting ready to start your day. It starts off faster grabbing your attention then mellows down quite a bit and then slightly picks up again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ts1qTynO1zg
The second Armstrong song I listened to was “Blueberry Hill”. This is one of Louis' songs where he mainly sings. The song is opened by a group of trumpets which set up the mood of the song. As soon as Armstrong starts to sing his voice makes you feel light and happy like all your worries have gone away. His unique voice is unmistakable and always has a soothing familiar feel to it. There are some parts in the song where a choir is featured to sing the chorus. The song is very calm and easy going and is supper easy to relax and vibe too. The song's lyrics have some sad elements but are mainly happy and optimistic. They talk about love, dreams coming true, and finding the thrill in life.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_-fZxb0R9s
The final Louis Arstrong song I listened to was “I Surrender Dear”.
This is another one of his hybrid songs where he plays the trumpet and sings. The song itself is split into two different parts. In part one the first 2 minutes or so of the song is Louis playing his trumpet accompanied by the piano and other instrumentals in the background. Louis is playing his trumpet in a very sensual, soothing and almost erotic way. The song is definitely very calming and slow and the combo of the trumpet/clarinet and Armstrongs singing voice work perfectly together. After a while Louis starts singing, my favorite parts of his singing were his deeper notes that almost put me to sleep. In part 2 the song picks up a lot and becomes much more energetic and upbeat. The trumpet and clarinet start to play much faster and drums start to play with repetitive taps of the symbol. The song now feels like a dancing song and makes you feel energetic and vibrant. Part 2 is all instrumental and ends with a bang
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWhJgZSa-8o
ReplyDeleteI Surrender Dear Armstrong had a long solo, the song is slow. Armstrong has a way of singing that’s different. He sings like he plays his trumpet. Kind of slurs his words can really hear the desperation in his singing then follows back up with his trumpet it's a slow song with sounded like an orchestra in the background
One of these days
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KF7-xh8Ai1c
Has an upbeat beginning, comes in repeating words sings with a trumpet playing with him then goes on with a trumpet solo the trumpet continues to hit high notes with it’s solo that works really well with the other instruments then other instruments get a turn of having their short solos taking turns at leading the song. Then the trumpet comes back and has its solo singing as if it had a mind of its own. This music is very good for dancing with its upbeat rhythm then at the end the long note he held down really stuck to me at the end
I Can’t Give You Anything But Love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xj_9sXa4wU
Starts off with armstrong playing the trumpet then the orchestra follows then armstrong begins his singing his voice matches the music very well , he has a unique way a singing then continues with his trumpet solo and his famous high notes his trumpet playing sounds just as good as his singing then then you can hear a saxophone and a clarinet taking turns as he continues to sing. I really like the mix of instrument solos and his singing makes it fun to listen to has
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WPCBieSESI
ReplyDeleteWest End Blues
West End Blues is played at a pretty slow 84 BPM, but the energy infused into it by Armstrong’s trumpet prowess never bore the audience. There are no real lyrics to the song, just a slow scat break in the middle. The scat break is slow and melodic too, a perfect compliment to the song. The song almost tells a story, completely without words. It feels like a day in the life told through music. The beginning trumpet feels like a stroll towards one’s workplace. The cowbell added in the second portion mimics a train going by or the hard beats of manuel labour. The scat break gives the feeling like one’s taking a walk through town as people talk amongst themselves. The piano added in the next section gives the feeling that one has taken a break at a bar and is listening to that nights entertainment as the day winds down. It’s beautiful story telling without ever speaking a word.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpmcanGouw4
Sugar Foot Stomp
“Sugar Foot Stomp” is much faster than “West End Blues”, around 199 BPM. It feels like a proper dancing song, something you could imagine clubs would play as customers danced along together. The trumpet is once again phenomenal, fast and loose yet still perfectly matched to the rest of the instruments. There seems to be a section in the middle that’s almost call and response where the rest of the music plays in the breaks of a trumpet solo, almost like the rest of the band is responding to Armstrong’s call.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7N2wssse14
Hello Dolly
Unlike the other songs, “Hello Dolly” includes some of Armstrong’s vocals. His voice is very earthly, almost guttural, yet with so much passion. It feels like he’s pushing the lyrics out of his throat, but their so stuck in there that he has to put twice the passion and heart into them to even convince them to leave his mouth. The trumpet he plays is so different from his voice, it’s light and sharp, seemingly other worldly, while his voice is human and deep and so completely Earthly bound. Some of his words are so muddled by his accent, you only get the emotion instead of the words.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ts1qTynO1zg
ReplyDeleteThe first song that I did was “Blueberry Hill”. I thought that Armstrong in the recording was a little older, despite this he still had the same characteristics in his voice. He his voice had a very smooth cracking to it and was very pleasing to listen to. I noticed that the started off very slow with a short piano solo followed by calm tone in his voice. Followed this was a trombone responding to every line. I really thought the song was really soothing and really nice to listen to.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WPCBieSESI
The next song that I listened to “West End Blues”. I thought that this song actually had done the opposite of the other song which was it started off a lot faster and got slower overtime. What was very noticeable during the song was that there were no lyrics to the song. Honestly, I did not like it very much and it felt really slow and was expecting. The high pitch trumpet playing of Armstrong which I really loved and missed in this song. I thought that that during the song I noticed usually there was a solo instrument followed by a reply by all of the other instruments, almost like a drum circle or a singing circle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1v3-PGi-7I
Lastly I listened to “Julibee”. I enjoyed this song a lot more because it had the trumpet high pitch tunes that Armstrong is known for. I think it was a snare drum in the beginning which I hadn’t heard is the past other songs. In this song It was a lot more of a Happier tune and was a lot more enjoyable to listen to. I really liked the way that Armstrong was able to use the trumpet as a way to speak. The trumpet really sounded like it was saying tunes with it snarls and vibrations.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UofL8pD69co
ReplyDelete“Hotter than That” is an instrumental track produced in 1927. It offers great examples of Armstrong’s signature trumpet improvisation. The rhythmic patterns are complex and unusual, incorporating the innovations of swing. Armstrong also shares his trumpet flourishes with the clarinet, piano and guitar lines that back him up, creating the impression that the instruments are communicating with one another. “Hotter than That” is lively and energetic and showcases Armstrong’s musicality.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IvqxedEuoj8
“Heebie Jeebies” starts off with a chorus of instruments playing over each other, before Armstrong begins to sing about halfway through. The lyrics talk about a dance called the Heebie Jeebies, that people do because it pleases them to “be joy.” Therefore, it becomes clear that having the Heebie Jeebies is an expression of feeling joyful, a sentiment the song effectively conveys. The woodwind and string lines from his Big Five perform their own verses before Armstrong himself, so the song offers a satisfying contrast between human and instrument voices.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bmXZNbXvjYk
“Skip the Gutter” is another instrumental by Armstrong and His Hot Five. Like in “Hotter than That,” Armstrong sings with his trumpet throughout this track, and his improvisation relates an emotionality that is normally only achieved with the voice. The accompaniment initially consists of long, drawn out notes from other brass instruments but soon shifts to piano runs that mimic what’s happening on Armstrong’s trumpet. With a more laid-back mood than the other two tracks listed here, “Skip the Gutter” is both powerful and calming.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fYPnOcFeCIM
ReplyDeleteThe first Louis Armstrong song that I listened to was “West end blues”. This is a song that is just straight smooth form the jump. It has some parts where it is the higher tones of the instruments, but it still feels smooth. While it is not particularly upbeat it is also not a sad song, it is something that you just kind of listen to and feel. It is somewhat indescribable which makes it even better and just shows how powerful of a song it really is. It also does not have any lyrics in the song, you are just left alone with your thoughts and the beautiful sound of the music.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=67O4bMFRM4Y
The second song that I listened to was “You rascal you”. This song has a more upbeat tone to it with the faster tempo and the higher pitch of the instruments. It also has vocals from Louis Armstrong and Louis Jordan. Louis Jordan’s voice is very smooth and it is cool how it is contrasted with Armstrong’s voice which is a lot harsher than the former. Even though his voice is harsher it still somehow compliments Jordan’s voice. It is also odd because it just feels like Armstrong’s voice is still smooth in a way.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=67O4bMFRM4Y
The final song that I listened to was “Sittin in the dark”. This song was a slightly slower tempo song, but still maintained a medium speed. It also had the high tones to fill in the spots where Armstrong wasn’t singing which give the song a happier feeling. This song does also have vocals from Armstrong, but the majority of it is just him playing his instrument. Like I said before, his voice is harsh yet smooth at the same time in this song and you just have to appreciate the sound for what it is.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFFM4dxC1kk
ReplyDelete“What A Wonderful World”
This song is a very beautiful tune. The instrumentals and melody really match the lyrics. Armstrong’s message of positivity and love in the world has inspired people for decades. Armstrong’s raspy voice is very relaxing and makes this song wonderful.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gIH-0qihGk
“My Heart”
This song is has an upbeat tempo and is a very busy tune. There are multiple solo sections across the tune. There are no lyrics to the tune, only instruments. The melody has a good feeling to it and makes you want to tap your foot to it. Across each solo there are recurring melodic themes that run through the tune.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJNIO_TkgrQ
“I Ain’t Got Nobody”
Armstrong sings about his troubles of finding love. It isn’t a completely sad song, but more of melancholy. Armstrong plays his trumpet and sings with an interesting rhythm; he pauses and holds notes where you don’t think he will. Unlike “My Heart”, the background instrumentals are very quiet, making Armstrong’s vocals and trumpet the predominant sound.
The first song I chose was Dream a Little Dream of Me. It starts off with a trumpet solo which easily catches you attention. It’s followed by Ella Fitzgerald’s soothing voice. The song in general is ethereal and dreamy like the title suggests. After her section, Louis’ raspy, earthy voice brings you back to earth and grounds the song. Overall its a beautiful song that makes you smile with its sharp instruments and the smooth sound of the singers’ voices.
ReplyDeleteThe second song I chose was Jubilee. This song starts off with drums and from the start has a more upbeat and dance type of feeling to it. He sings of being happy and watching the blues go away. It has a different feel from the first song but his voice retains its unique form and sound that captivates listeners. There is a trumpet solo in the middle which pierces through the melody in a refreshing way like lemon zest on a cheesecake.
The last song I chose was West End Blues. This song starts off with a faster trumpet solo that slows down and is joined by another instrument. They respond to each other as if its a conversation for the rest of the song. Towards the end there is a piano solo that emerges from the smooth sound of the trumpets. It’s as if it interrupts, bursts into its own little tangent and then leaves the song. The trumpets return with a sweeter sound and blend together to end the song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3yCcXgbKrE
ReplyDeleteThe first song I listened to was “What a Wonderful World”. This song is uplifting and hopeful giving happiness to anyone who listens to it. I have listened to other renditions of this song but there is something captivating about the way Armstrong performs this song. There are very strong feelings of nostalgia and personally, I thought of my childhood and playing in my neighborhood as a child. The lyrics in the song talk about harmony and the beautiful world we live in. There is a soft background piano but the song is dominated by Louis voice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYPnOcFeCIM
The second song I listened to was “West end blues”. This was a classic bluesy style song that had no lyrics but Armstrong works his magic and sings with his trumpet and the song that he sings is sad and retrospective thinking about the past. My favorite part was near the end when Armstrong has a solo filled with high notes that really captured my attention. There are also a clarinet as well as background instruments that make the song smooth and continuous. It reminds me of the music in classic movies that play when something bad has happened.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAlrpx40UnE
The third song I listened to was “Hotter than that”. This song was another instrumental with Armstrongs trumpet starring in solos for the majority of the song. It is a fast paced song that I can imagine being played at a dinner party in the 30’s or a dance party. This song provides a lot of energy because of the fast pace of Armstrong’s trumpet and he also scats for a portion of the song. This gives it an improvisational feel that makes it very interesting.
Jubilee https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1v3-PGi-7I
ReplyDeleteThe first song i chose is called “Jubilee.” This song’s pace is set immediately upon its start, opening with a fast paced pattering of drums. A few seconds into the drumroll, comes in trumpets playing higher pitched sounds altogether. It sounds like a celebration at first, like a festival of some sort. This makes sense because the song is called Jubilee, which is like an anniversary. This song talks about everyone being welcome to join the fun of this joyful celebration vibe. After the first verse, there is a trumpet solo with some longer held notes. This song exudes happy vibes and my appreciation for the trumpet also has grown after listening to this... there is so much emotion that goes into playing the trumpet solo here, you can definitely feel the levels of happiness that were flowing through the trumpet player ..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WPCBieSESI\
The second song I chose was “West End Blues.” This song opens with a trumpet solo, but dont be fooled, it doesn’t vibrate the same happy sound as you get further into the song as “Jubilee” did. It’s actually kinda cool how an instrument as loud and high pitched as a trumpet can be played in such a way to give off a completely different vibe. The piano sets a background pace, but it also has a somewhat lagging feel to it. All the horns that overlay each other once the piano comes in definitely sets the scene for what it’s titled, blues (like sad style blues). The notes often are okayed downward, so the sound gets lower, producing a sad overall sound.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-6mqkFI-oA
The last song I chose is called “Blueberry Hill.” As soon as I started playing the song, I thought, “wow, this guy really plays all sorts of vibes.” Armstrong doesn’t just stick to one style of song, or one mood, he seems to play the field and as a result, there is a lot of diversity in each of his songs. Anyways, this song has a mellow, steady pace, which is perfectly complemented by Louis’s recognizable voice. The soft playing of the horn in the background is very soothing as well. One and, two and, three and, is what the tempo seems like. His emotion is always able to be heard through his powerful voice. Throughout the song, towards the end, the song climaxes and he lets out a final medium volumes yell.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKCJHzWi7Ho
ReplyDeleteThe trumpet played by Louis Armstrong is the lead in "Mabel's Dream." All the other instruments are being played at different rhythms, but they knit together to create the syncopation to back the trumpet. "Mabel's Dream" has a distinctive melody. I would recognize it if I heard it playing out in public somewhere. It also reminded me a bit of some Jim Croce songs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUMzGS6zz84
In "Yellow Dog Blues" Louis Armstrong sings, and also plays trumpet at the end. His voice sounds like another instrument because it was so unique. Also, I think his voice was kind of an extension of his trumpet. He blends jazz and blues in this song, which at the time probably brought blues to a wider audience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28ULUQgxJ5M
"Mack the Knife" is fun song, that I bet kids probably liked back when it came out. It's about a murderer named Mack. In the passage we read, it mentioned that Louis Armstrong probably drew on his experiences growing up in a red light district when writing "Mack the Knife."