Join us for an incredible evening of Music and storytelling honoring the man who changed jazz forever, the great one, Louis Armstrong!
All ticket proceeds go to fund the Jazz Institute of Chicago’s free public programming and its jazz education initiatives.
Three of the top jazz trumpet players in the country, Orbert Davis, Maurice Brown, and Corey Wilkes convene with their bands at the Logan Center for the Arts (915 E 60th St, Chicago) on October 20 at 7PM to honor the man who changed jazz forever, Louis Armstrong.
Through music, images, and narration by acclaimed vocalist, Dee Alexander, the evening will tell the story of Louis Armstrong’s life in three parts. The first part will focus on Armstrong challenging youth in New Orleans and his unusual introduction to music by a Jewish family who took him under their guidance. The next chapter will focus on his arrival to Chicago 1922 to join King Oliver’s Creole Band where he honed his craft, met his wife Lil Hardin Armstrong, and began a series of recordings and appearances that changed jazz music forever. Finally, the third part will showcase Armstrong’s ascent to international stardom, his move to NY, and his lasting legacy.
Jazz, American original art form, has evolved greatly from the time when Armstrong first arrived in Chicago by train from New Orleans. But through all its changes in form, all roads lead back to Louis Armstrong. He was one of the best trumpets of all time, and an incredible improvisor and innovator, As Miles Davis once said, "You can’t play nothing on modern trumpet that doesn’t come from him.” Or as Dizzy Gillespie summed up about Armstrong, “No him. No me.”
This evening of music and storytelling will showcase the mastery of Louis Armstrong and why he remains arguably the most influential jazz musician in the history of the art form.
Please join us for this very special evening at the beautiful Logan Center for the Arts for this one-time extraordinary event celebration the life of Louis Armstrong.
GET TICKETS: $50 General Admission | $40 JIC Members | $20 Students with I.D.
(VIP TICKETS ARE SOLD OUT!)
Jazz Institute of Chicago is proud to receive generous support from the following organizations
The Alphawood Foundation; a CityArts grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events; Crown Family Philanthropies; Chicago's Cultural Treasures; The Darling Family Foundation; The Ella Fitzgerald Foundation; The Epstein Family Foundation; The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelly Foundation; The Fry Foundation; The Glossberg Foundation; The Illinois Arts Council Agency, a state agency; The MacArthur Fund for Arts and Culture at Prince; The Mellon Foundation; The Polk Bros. Foundation; The Oppenheimer Family Foundation; The Walder Foundation; The Wang Family