Louis Armstrong: What a wonderful world - Essay Example

When drum was integrated in as part of the music, New Orleans paired this with bass, snare and cymbals-- also known as brass instruments (Sharp, Snyder, & Hischke, 1997). Of course, the characteristic of jazz music also evolved in the Swing or Big Band Era in the 19030-40s. There is also the preference of small ensembles in trio, quartet or quintet but which still focused on improvisation done by the Bop (1945-1950) (Sharp, Snyder, & Hischke, 1997). Cool jazz thrived in the 1950s with calm, softer dynamics and soft instrumental play and the Hard Bop jazz was enjoyed in the 1955-1960s with hard-driving emotional characteristics (Sharp, Snyder, & Hischke, 1997).

The jazz in the 1960s is characterized by avant garde which is perceived as a free form jazz complete with improvisations. Fusion or jazz rock is delved since 1970s with the use of electronic instruments, piano, bass and synthesizers. There is however emphasis on the rhythm in this kind of jazz (Sharp, Snyder, & Hischke, 1997). . sang that beautify song “What a Wonderful World.” Experts contended that Armstrong songs were depiction of his historic experiences as a resident from the poorest part of American community and as a person who struggled against apartheid, and slavery that marginalized and discriminated black Americans in his times (National Portrait Gallery, 2012).

The Billboard and Down Beat magazines considered him as the most important figure in the history of jazz music (Library of Congress, 2012). They contended that nobody has ever played jazz as he did. Instead of following notes as generally a performer would do, he innovated and improvised the harmony based on what is playing his head (Library of Congress, 2012). Batema (2012) contended that jazz inspired the integration of Creole and African American cultures and musical styles with the fusion of African and European rhythms.

Jazz rhythms nowadays have a swing beat genre but with some “blues notes” added to the pentatonic scale (Batema, 2012). For these jazz prowess, Armstrong was dubbed as a scat singer – someone that improvised music by singing real words hitching him up to prominence in the 1960s, in fact, ranking ahead of Beatles in the music industry’s charts (Library of Congress, 2012). Even in this post-modern period Armstrong song “What a Wonderful World” is still being sang by classic music lovers and advocates of green and peaceful world (National Portrait Gallery, 2012).

The song could have been inspired by his strong advocacy for social justice, equality, and his solidarity with the rest of the black people of the world such as Ghana who fought for their independence (National Portrait Gallery, 2012). Spreading goodwill after World War II and before the period of cold war, he was a jazz icon