Louis Armstrong’s America is a recording project developed by the saxophonist, composer, and music historian Allen Lowe in order to examine the musical world in which Louis Armstrong lived.

Working from the belief that the period of time Armstrong lived – 1900-1971 – was a time of amazing musical variety and creativity in the realm of American popular music, Lowe composed an epic set of music – 69 pieces – which was then released on four compact discs by the legendary label ESP DISK. The CDs include music inspired by James Reese Europe, Edward Jenkins’ legendary Orphanage Band (which taught Jabbo Smith, Freddie Green, and Cat Anderson); by James Reese Europe, Charles Mingus, the integration of schools in Little Rock, Arkansas (after which Armstrong protested angrily against the US Justice Department’s inaction) early hillbilly music, Steve Albini, Charlie Parker, Roswell Rudd, Albert Ayler, Duke Ellington, Aaron Copeland, and many others.

The reviews have been strongly positive; the CDs were named in several Top 10 lists, and was called  “a revelation” (Francis Davis);” Lee Rice Epstein described  wrote: “Louis Armstrong’s America sounds like a reaffirming celebration of all that’s good about great American music. Lowe’s music is personal, deeply thoughtful, and addictively listenable.” Jon Karp, a professor at Suny Binghamton said: “It’s Allen’s unequalled grasp of the entire history of American music that emerges in such idiosyncratic and creatively beautiful ways throughout this collection. I can’t think of anyone else who could have pulled off such a remarkably ambitious undertaking. He is a genius, without question.  Ladies and gentlemen, the Best jazz album of 2024 is Allen Lowe’s Louis Armstrong’s America! It’s exactly what you want to listen to throughout 2025.”

The group appearing will be:

Allen Lowe, tenor saxophone
Elijah Shiffer, alto saxophone
Daniel Bereket, trumpet
Lewis Porter, piano
Colson Jimenez, bass
Ethan Kogan, drums

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