SATCHMO CENTENNIAL CELEBRATED IN THE BIRTHPLACE OF JAZZ

New Orleans, LA The birthplace of jazz will mark the centennial of native son and "International Ambassador of Jazz" Louis Daniel Armstrong August 2nd through 5th, 2001.

Satchmo SummerFest, held at the U.S. Old Mint in the French Quarter, celebrates Armstrong's memorable career with an unforgettable free music festival, a centennial conference, intimate seminars, children's activities, a club crawl, a jazz mass and second-line parade, and much more. Michael Cogswell, Director of the Louis Armstrong House and Archives at Queens College, New York, predicts, "Of the dozens of Louis Armstrong centennial observances underway all over the world, the celebration in New Orleans promises to be the most exciting."

The free, all-Armstrong weekend will explore Satchmo's life through music, dance, art and food. Several of Armstrong's friends and musical associates will offer "informances" about the world's greatest trumpeter. Highlights of the weekend include a performance by vocalist Jewel Brown, who sang with Armstrong's All-Stars from 1961-68. Selma Heraldo, a next door neighbor and traveling companion of the Armstrongs, will share her memories of Louis and Lucille, as will Arvell Shaw, Joe Muranyi, Franz Jackson and Armstrong protœgœ Chris Clifton. Local artists and performers will join leading African-American choreographer Donald Byrd in a program that explores the influence of Armstrong and jazz on contemporary art. Other musicians offering tributes to Pops include Kermit Ruffins & the Barbeque Swingers, the Olympia Brass Band, the Storyville Stompers, the Louisiana Repertory Jazz Ensemble, and Clive Wilson's Satchmo Serenade with Butch Thompson.

The Crescent City-style cuisine that inspired Louis” "Red Beans and Ricely Yours" signature will be served up all weekend, along with specially created dishes named for Armstrong's most famous songs.

A Centennial Conference (August 2nd - 5th) will focus on Louis Armstrong as musician, writer and storyteller in a comprehensive journey through his career. Three artistic exhibitions will provide a biographic overview of Armstrong's life and the jazz scene in which he worked. "Louis Armstrong the Louisiana Years, "Satchmo's Early Years" and "A Career in Jazz: The Photography of Herman Leonard" supplement the Louisiana State Museum's permanent exhibition featuring the cornet that young Louis practiced on. Also on display, for the first time in this collection, will be a fascinating letter written by Satchmo that recounts his years growing up in New Orleans and his glorious return to reign as King Zulu during Mardi Gras in 1949.

On Saturday, August 4th, the University of New Orleans will host "Satchmo to Marsalis: A Tribute to the Fathers of Jazz," a benefit concert featuring Ellis Marsalis, all four of his musical sons, Wynton, Branford, Delfeayo and Jason, and one of his most well known students, Harry Connick, Jr.

"The festivities surrounding the Satchmo SummerFest will be much like the musician himself original, dynamic and always entertaining. I hope everyone will join us in New Orleans for what promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime event," said Louisiana's Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco.

Satchmo SummerFest is sponsored by the Louisiana Office of Tourism in cooperation with the Louisiana State Museum and is produced by French Quarter Festivals, Inc. For more information about the free festivities, email to info@frenchquarterfestivals.org or call 800-673-5725 within the U.S., or 504-522-5730. You can also visit http://www.satchmosummerfest.com/ for details or to book specially priced hotel accommodations. For information about conference registration, contact the University of New Orleans Conference Services at 800-258-8830 in the U.S. or 504-280-6680 or via email: confmc@uno.edu.

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