Worcestershire | Archive | 2002 | October | 31
From the archive, first published Thursday 31st Oct 2002.
HOMAGE will be paid to jazz legend Louis Armstrong in a special event being held in Kidderminster.
The concert at the town's library will include numbers from his early days through to favourites like Rockin' Chair, Ain't Misbehavin, Mack the Knife and Hello Dolly.
The Great Mr Satchmo, scheduled to take place on Thursday, November 14, will see the Black Country-based Simon Deeley Trio join forces with trumpeter Tony Billingsley to pay tribute to one of the greatest performers in the history of jazz.
New Orleans-born Armstrong, who died in 1971 aged 69, revolutionised jazz, becoming nationally and then internationally famous for his particular style of playing.
He began his career playing on the Mississippi river boats in the bands of Kid Ory and Fats Marable, making a name for himself as a young man in the 1920s by playing with bands such as King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band and the Fletcher Henderson Jazz Orchestra.
In the early days he also formed his famous Hot Five and Hot Seven bands, whose recordings are now widely acclaimed as classics.
Later in his career Armstrong began to reach a wider audience by becoming a great singer and entertainer while still being a wonderful trumpet player. He appeared in many films and churned out a string of hit songs such as the famous What a Wonderful World.
The Simon Deeley Trio, who appeared at the library earlier this year with John Sparry, comprise Simon Deeley on piano, Jim Sutton on bass and drummer Roger Bruton.
And they have chosen an accomplished trumpeter to bring the work of the legendary Armstrong to life.
Tony Billingsley has played with many of the top professional names on the British jazz scene, including Humphrey Lyttleton, George Melly and Bob Wallis - and recalls an essential part of a gig with Wallis was to help him find his glass eye, which he usually lost on stage.
Tony has spent his career playing jazz and joined The Antique Six - a professional band currently touring the UK jazz club and festival circuit, with plans to travel to Holland and Spain next year - in 2001.
The event at Kidderminster Library's music gallery, starting at 7.30pm, will be a celebration of Armstrong's music and will feature numbers from throughout his career.
More details about the event are available by calling the library on 01562 824500, while information about the band can be accessed at www.genealogy-worcester.co.uk/deeley.htm.
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