Jazz Greats 2024: Louis Armstrong

doors 7 pm, show 7:30 pm  On July 6th the Sanctuary is excited to present the fourth concert in the "In The Constellations Now" series honoring perhaps the most influential instrumentalist and vocalist of the 20th Century, "Pops", Louis Armstrong. Armstrong's birthday has traditionally been celebrated as July 4th, 1900, though more recent research has turned up a birth certificate for August 4th 1901. The Sanctuary has chosen to stick with tradition and celebrate close to the date Louis considered his birthday.

The band will perform a wide variety of music from Armstrongs career, with an emphasis of course on New Orleans Jazz. Trombonist-vocalist James Zeller will act as host and emcee with the support of local trumpet hero Don Hammerstedt, Katie Belknap on vocals and clarinet, Lee Phillips on Bass, Ramsey Isaacs on drums, and Matthew Seno on piano.

Born in New Orleans in the critical time when Jazz was coalescing as a style, young Louis worked as a coal delivery boy, busked on the street in a vocal quartet of pals, made his own horn out of tin, learned to play cornet in the [sic] 'Colored Waifs Home for Boys', as an adolescent marched along with Joe 'King' Oliver (and carried King Oliver's horn for him on breaks). He eventually took lessons from Oliver, joined the Tuxedo Jazz Band (a gig he still said decades later was his most important). When Oliver sent for him to join his band in Chicago, it was the beginning of a journey that would take 'Satchmo' all over the world, changing music forever. This show will feature historical background and readings from Armstrong's own (voluminous) writings to set the music in context.

Every show in the series has sold out so please buy your tickets early! We are very grateful to our sponsors Maureen Murphy and Leo Prosser! If you are interested in sponsoring a show in this series or something not in the series, please contact the Sanctuary!