Louis, Louis Spokane Jazz Orchestra Performs Tribute To Louis Armstrong

The Spokane Jazz Orchestra continues its 25th anniversary season’s survey of a century of jazz with a concert entitled “A Tribute to Louis Armstrong and New Orleans Jazz.”

Byron Stripling, who has developed a tribute to Satchmo and was the originally scheduled guest artist for this performance, will not be appearing. “We couldn’t swing it,” SJO director Dan Keberle said, “so we are featuring Charlotte and Bill Carruthers. Bill does a great vocal impersonation of Louis, and we will have several different trumpet players from the band who will try to fill in for Armstrong. Some good players Andy Plamondon, Mike Baker, Steve Fillipini and myself.”

Louis Armstrong’s shoes are awfully big ones to fill, but it is fitting that the Spokane Jazz Orchestra honors the man. Armstrong, probably the greatest name in the creation of jazz, was in at the very beginning of the style, performing on the street as a child in New Orleans.

He cut his teeth with the King Oliver Band, and with his own Hot Five and Hot Seven Bands. In those early days of recording, Armstrong not only put jazz on the map, but defined the role of celebrity and virtuoso soloist.

Taking improvisation out of the band and into the limelight was not his only innovation. He switched from cornet to trumpet and added a handful of powerful notes at the top of the instrument which changed the tone of every trumpeter who came after him, along with plenty of other instrumentalists. His distinctive singing voice would be enough to remember him by, but don’t forget that he also pioneered scat singing - using his voice as an instrument with nonsense syllables instead of words.

Armstrong toured the world, made movies, recorded over seven decades, and was an all-around ambassador for jazz in his later years. It is hard to imagine what jazz would be, or even if jazz would be, if it weren’t for his innovations and accomplishments.

Some of Armstrong’s hits are tunes that have not only become jazz standards, but are recognized popular songs nationally and internationally. If you don’t recognize most of the titles to follow, give yourself the gift of going to the concert to bone up or refresh your memory.

“What A Wonderful World,” “Hello, Dolly” and “Jeepers, Creepers” will all be done by Bill Carruthers in the Satchmo style, and he will be joined by his sister Charlotte for “Pennies from Heaven” and “When the Saints Go Marching In.”

Charlotte, whose voice is familiar to Spokane jazz fans, is on her own for “Sweet Georgia Brown,” “Georgia On My Mind” and “Do You Know What It Means (To Miss New Orleans).”

More of Louis’ signature tunes will be done as instrumentals, including “Sleepy Time Down South” and “Down by the Riverside.”

“The audience will really recognize these tunes,” Keberle said. “Louis Armstrong was pretty much the father of jazz. The things he did are staples of American culture today, even years and years later.”

This sidebar appeared with the story: IN CONCERT Spokane Jazz Orchestra

When/where: Saturday at 8 p.m. at The Met. Tickets: $18.50 for adults, $16.50 for students/military, available at G&B Select-a-Seat outlets, by phone at (800) 325-SEAT or online at www.ticketswest.com.