Rapp on Jazz: Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, pt. III

Published December 5, 2025 at 6:04 AM EST

Jazz trumpeter Louis Armstrong, who nearly died this spring, is happily back practicing for his eventual return to work, shown in the upstairs den of his Corona, New York home on June 23, 1971. Armstrong had newsmen in to show his recovery from his near-fatal illness and to thank his fans for their mail during his 10 week hospital stay. (AP Photo/John Rooney)

TRANSCRIPT:

I’m Mark Rapp, and this is Rapp on Jazz.

The vocal artistry of Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald continues to shape modern jazz singing. Armstrong’s expressive phrasing, gravelly tone, and rhythmic inventiveness set a standard for emotional storytelling in music, inspiring countless vocalists to blend instrumental phrasing with singing.

Ella Fitzgerald’s flawless technique, mastery of scat, and inventive improvisation expanded the possibilities of vocal expression, influencing singers across genres.

Together, their recordings demonstrated the power of collaboration. Contemporary jazz artists—from Dianne Reeves to Norah Jones—draw on their phrasing, swing, and playful improvisation. Armstrong and Fitzgerald taught singers that emotional connection, rhythmic flexibility, and melodic inventiveness are as essential as pitch and tone, leaving a lasting imprint on the evolution of vocal jazz.

This has been Rapp on Jazz, a co-production of ColaJazz and SC Public Radio, made possible by The ETV Endowment of South Carolina.