Louis Armstrong will be remembered with a celebration of his 100th birthday at the Satchmo SummerFest in his hometown of New Orleans, La. The event will take place August 2-5 and will include a free music festival, seminars and children’s activities.
The weekend will integrate music, dance, art and food to celebrate Satchmo’s life achievements. Highlights of the event include recollections of Armstrong by friends and musical associates, performances by local artists and a smorgasbord of specially created dishes named after Armstrong’s songs (think “Struttin’ With Some Barbeque” and “Big Butter & Egg Man”).
Some of the musicians involved in the Armstrong tribute concert are Jewel Brown, a former vocalist of Armstrong’s All-Stars, Kermit Ruffins & the Barbeque Swingers, the Olympia Brass Band and the Louisiana Repertory Jazz Ensemble.
A Centennial Conference will provide a biographic journey through Armstrong’s career as a musician, writer and storyteller. A benefit concert on August 4, “Satchmo to Marsalis: A Tribute to the Fathers of Jazz,” will be hosted by the University of New Orleans. The concert will feature Ellis Marsalis, all four of his musical sons, Wynton, Branford, Delfeayo and Jason, and his most famous student, pianist/singer Harry Connick, Jr.
Go to www.satchmosummerfest.com or call the Louisiana Office of Tourism at (800) 673-5725 for festival details and specially priced hotel accommodations.
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