Jazz in the 1980s trod two main paths - one that led towards the radio-friendly sounds of smooth jazz and another that looked back to the early days of jazz: the neo-conservative movement. Spearheaded by musicians such as Wynton Marsalis, the neo-conservatives advocated the acoustic music of the early jazz giants, particularly Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong.

This classic track from Louis Armstrong's legendary Hot Five session - actually featuring six musicians in this instance: Louis Armstrong (trumpet, vocals), Earl Hines (piano), Jimmy Strong (clarinet), Fred Robinson (trombone) and Zutty Singleton (drums) - is a masterpiece of the music that inspired the neo-cons in the 1980s. Armstrong's stunning introduction (faithfully recreated by Marsalis in Ken Burns' film Jazz) is followed by a laid-back blues. Deceptively simple solos from the trombone, clarinet and piano, as well as Armstrong's lazy scat singing, hardly prepare the listener for the powerful tension of Armstrong's short solo, before Hines and the band gently bring us back down to earth.

Links

http://www.npr.org/programs/jazzprofiles/archive/armstrong_trumpeter.html
Discussion of Armstrong's playing techniques with links to audio excerpts, including an interesting programme about 'West End Blues'.

http://redhotjazz.com
This site provides an invaluable resource on early jazz, with extensive biographies, essays and downloadable tracks.

http://www.rootsandrhythm.com/
International US-based mail order record catalogue, specializing in roots music.

http://www.jazznblues.co.uk/
UK-based jazz and blues record specialists.