Tuesdays on the Tube: Louis Armstrong and Jack Teagarden

Louis Armstrong and Jack Teagarden are considered some of the early pioneers of jazz. During the early Jazz Age, both of these men were well-known as individual musicians. While Armstrong (born in New Orleans) was doing great work in New York City, Teagarden (born in Texas) was playing in bands in Chicago. These two jazz icons began to collaborate in 1947 with Armstrong’s All-Star Band which later was condense to Louis Armstrong’s All Stars. They would begin to produce recordings that really identified a unique style to jazz.

Armstrong, a.k.a., “Satchmo”, was known for his versatility of the jazz trumpet as well as his raspy sounding vocal skills. Teagarden, or “Big T”, was known for being one of the first jazz trombonists to step out of the typical New Orleans brass band role and really bring the trombone to the spotlight as a solo instrument. Both of the musicians really utilized jazz as an art form while entertaining audiences all over the world.

This video of Basin Street Blues, taken from the movie, The Strip, highlights both their singing and instrumental abilities.

Enjoy!