Jazz tradicional: «Savoyager’s Stomp», «Muskrat Ramble», «Hotter Than That» y «Big Butter and Egg Man» [ESP/ENG]

In 1926 Louis Armstrong was considered Chicago’s best jazz trumpeter, and renowned musicians, both black and white, went to see him play at The Sunset Cafe. Among them were the famous bandleader Paul Whiteman, the iconic cornetist Bix Beiderbecke, clarinetist and future “King of Swing” Benny Goodman, brothers Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey on trombone and clarinet respectively, who would lead their own big bands during the 1930s, tenor saxophonist Bud Freeman, cornetist Muggsy Spanier, guitarist Eddie Condon, double bassist Milt Hinton and drummer Lionel Hampton. That’s when Armstrong started to entertain by joking, singing and playing the trumpet.

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In view of the good reception from the public, Hines and drummer Zutty Singleton opened the Usonia dance hall with Armstrong as the main attraction, with such bad luck that right on the same street the Savoy Ballroom was inaugurated with the Carroll Dickerson’s Savoyagers and soon after the Usonia went bankrupt. Therefore, after a brief stint with pianist Clarence Jones’ band, in early 1928 Armstrong began working again as a star soloist under the direction of Dickenson, later taking over as the band’s frontman. In addition, radio broadcasts started to be aired from the dance hall, being a very effective way of being known to the general public. They recorded “Savoyager’s Stomp”, which can be found below.

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Meanwhile, when Armstrong arrived in Chicago in late 1925, his wife had secured a contract with Okeh Records, and he formed the first group called “Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five” with Johnny Dodds on clarinet, his former boss Kid Ory on trombone, his wife Lillian Hardin on piano and Johnny St. Cyr on guitar and banjo, all musicians he had previously played with in New Orleans. Until the end of 1927 this quintet recorded thirty-four tracks, including the hits “Muskrat Ramble”, “Hotter than that”, which can be found below, and “Heebie Jeebies”, with which Armstrong established the bases of modern scat. Armstrong always claimed that he dropped his lyric sheet while recording the song and for lack of words to sing he had to improvise with meaningless syllables melodic lines similar to those of an instrument, but this version is very dubious. Also he reached the charts with his first vocal recording “Big Butter and Egg Man”, a duet with jazz and cabaret singer May Alix which you can also find below.

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Translated with the help of DeepL

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