Miles Davis and Louis Armstrong are among the most famous and influential jazz musicians of the 20th century. Both artists played trumpets, and their styles later revolutionized the jazz industry. Their songs and performances paved the way for further generations of musicians and inspired millions of jazz connoisseurs. The two musicians represented two sides of the jazz genre, with Davis being an epitome of a restless spirit and Armstrong being a representation of serenity and charisma. However, it is crucial to draw the parallel between Davis and Armstrong further to see their influence in the realm of jazz.
First, it is vital to recognize the similarity between two jazz performers. Among the most prominent points that unity between Davis and Armstrong is the preferred instrument, trumpet, and the most active years, the 20th century. In the early 20th century, jazz was one of the most popular music genres, played in nightclubs and radios (Hobson, 2018). In this respect, Davis and Armstrong, who started performing in the 1920s and 1940s respectively, invented their styles and brought changes to the genre.
However, there are several opposites in performances of the singers, which nonetheless does not make any performer less talented or favored. For example, the first polarity is the singing style of Davis and Armstrong, where the latter played the trumpet with vibrato, and the former went the opposite way. One of the most notable things about Armstrong is his use of vibrato, which creates an effect of shaking (Hobson, 2018). Meanwhile, Davis used his instrument to mimic the sound of the person’s voice by eliminating vibrato, transforming his style into a softer and more sentimental type of music.
Another difference between Davis and Armstrong is the adherence to the style. In this case, Armstrong preferred only one style and never tried to change it since the beginning of his career in the 1920s (Hobson, 2018). Before Armstrong was introduced to the jazz genre, it was highly popular to use highly orchestrated structures or perform in a looser-structured Dixieland style (Hobson, 2018). The most significant influence on Armstrong was due to the introduction of Armstrong’s extended solo (Hobson, 2018). After the musician started to perform in this manner, every other artist tried to emulate the same approach, making Armstrong one of the most respected and recognized artists.
On the other hand, Miles Davis changed his styles throughout his career, seeking something innovative, which led to the development of modal jazz and the definition of jazz fusion. In the 1950s, Davis was inspired by George Russell, urging the former to opt for modes rather than fundamental chord shifts (Kahn, 2018). However, in the 1960s, the style of the performer changed yet again (Kahn, 2018). Davis’ horn play shifted, with more time between notes to establish more dramatic tension in the songs (Kahn, 2018). Finally, in the late 1960s, the musician changed course once more, laying the foundation for electric jazz (Kahn, 2018). His work resulted in the transformation of rock rhythm and elements of electronic style.
Hence, Davis and Armstrong were among the most notable musician of their time, leading to significant innovations and refinement in the realm of jazz. Two performers have several things in common, including the genre and preferred instrument. However, in other preferences, Davis and Armstrong were opposites. In this respect, while the former changed his styles over the course of his active years as a jazz musician, Armstrong preferred to refine his one solo style. Moreover, while the former eliminated vibrato to reach a softer sound, the latter used it in order to create the shaking effect.
References
Hobson, V. (2018). Creating the jazz solo: Louis Armstrong and barbershop harmony. University Press of Mississippi.
Kahn, A. (2018). Kind of blue: Miles Davis and the making of a masterpiece. Granta Books.