Balboa

Lil Hardin Armstrong (1898-1971) was a  pianist, composer, vocalist, recording artist and band leader. She helped introduce America to jazz music.

She was a dedicated jazz pianist, who established a reputation as “Hot Miss Lil,” one of the few female band ensemble members of the 1920’s.

She played on many of the first jazz recordings ever made and she wrote many of the early songs of the jazz era. Though she might be identified in the jazz world as the wife of Louis Armstrong, she was much more than that.

Read the full biography on allaboutjazz.com

Lil Hardin's You Shall Reap What You Sow is my song of the week: solid rhythm section, light and beautiful harmonies. I especially like Lil's soft voice and the different short solos.

You can find the songs of the series also on my Spotify playlist. Official hashtag of the series: #djcsotw

Do you like the «Song of the Week» series? Share your thoughts below.

Now Check Out:

• «Song of the Week» Series featured on Hey Mr. Jesse Podcast!
• Song of the Week #35: «Smiles» by the Flavio Ambrosetti Sextett
• Song of the Week #34: «At Sundown» by George Van Eps

As a guitar player, I have a predilection for Jazz guitarists.

This week's song is by a white American who came from a musical family and started his professional career at the age of 11: George Van Eps (7th August 1913-29th November 1998).

George started to play banjo like his father Fred, who was a famous banjo virtuoso and sound engineer.

At the age of 13 he fell under the influence of Eddie Lang, he learned the guitar well enough to play alongside Lang for six months as a teenager.

From 1931-1933, Van Eps worked with Freddy Martin, from 1934-1935 with Benny Goodman, from 1935-1936 and 1940-1941 with Ray Noble.

Meanwhile he moved to Hollywood and was working interim as a freelance musician, author of a how-to guitar book, and instrument designer.

After that, George Van Eps worked in his father's recording lab for two years and developed a 7-string guitar before returning to be a freelance musician for many years.

With an additional bass string he was able to play bass lines simultaneously with chords and lead solos.

I've chosen the tune «At Sundown«. What shall I say about it? It's a lightly swinging song with a catchy melody. Great for Balboa dancing!

You can find the songs of the series also on my Spotify playlist. Official hashtag of the series: #djcsotw

Do you like the «Song of the Week» series? Share your thoughts below.

Now Check Out:

• Song of the Week #33: «Chimes Blues» by King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band
• Song of the Week #32: «It's De-Lovely» by Boilermaker Jazz Band
• Song of the Week #31: «At A Dixie Roadside Diner» by Ivie Anderson w/ Duke Ellington