Breakfast Jams: Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five - Fireworks

Good morning!!

Louis Armstrong is one of my favorite jazz artists of all time. If you're not not familiar with his music already it's my pleasure to introduce you to it! 

Louis Armstrong was born in 1901 in New Orleans - the biggest jazz city that ever there was (the birthplace of Jazz, in fact).

Louis got into a little bit of trouble in his younger years but it was through that trouble that he was lead to the trumpet. He taught himself cornet (an instrument similar to the trumpet) at a young age. Later, he was sent to a home for boys for a year after firing a gun in the air on New Years Eve. It was at this home for boys where Louis received his formal musical training. 

In 1925 Louis moved to Chicago and created the group, Louis Armstrong and his Hot Five. This song, Fireworks, is from that album.

One of the key elements of jazz is called improvisation. Improvisation is where you don't have any music in front of you - you make it up as you go! 

Listen for the different improvisation solos in this song. How many do you count?