[Dixielandjazz] West End Blues

[Robert S. Ringwald]

Steve Barbone wrote:

West End Blues cadenza brings up an interesting question. The famous record
is a musical moment (or photograph) of how he played it that day. Did Louis
always play it that exact way prior to the record, or is it an
improvisation? Trumpet players today seek to play it like it is on the
record but were there other Louis versions?
(snip)

I have heard a couple other versions by Armstrong.  They tend to be very 
similar, but not exactly the same.  In later years he seems to have 
simplified  it a bit.  But it still swung as only Louis could do...

Zeke Zarchy who grew up in NY in the 30s told me that in NY, if you couldn't 
play that cadenza, you were not a trumpet player.

--Bob Ringwald K6YBV
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