London Jazz Festival, in association with BBC Radio 3, Friday 11 to Sunday 20 November 2011

A couple of weeks ago, myself, Abram Wilson, Richard Havers and Tim Doyle from Young and Serious convened at Ronnie Scott's on a Friday morning, to talk Louis Armstrong.

Abram Wilson is an award-winning trumpeter from New Orleans, whose music is steeped in the jazz tradition. It therefore seemed fitting to ask him along to lead the interview. 

Answering the questions was Richard Havers. His story is an interesting one. After spending twenty years in the airline industry, working in advertising, in-flight radio and producing concerts for artists such as Paul McCartney and The Beach Boys, he turned to writing. He’s since written over 40 books including include Bill Wyman’s Blues Odyssey, Sinatra, the acclaimed illustrated biography of Frank Sinatra and Jazz – The Golden Era. The connection with us is that he recently co-produced, and wrote the illustrated biography for, Satchmo: Louis Armstrong – Ambassador of Jazz, the 10 CD box set that Decca Records have just released to celebrate Louis Armstrong's 110 birthday this year.

We're also celebrating Pops' birthday at the Barbican at 3pm & 8pm on Sunday 13 November, hosting the European premiere of a brand new silent film called Louis, which offers a reimagining of a young Louis Armstrong growing up in 1907 New Orleans. The film score (by Wynton Marsalis) will be played live to picture, by a group of some of Wynton's closest associates. You can view the trailer here.

I'd love to have met Louis Armstrong. Think he'd be one of the invitees to my fantasy dinner, of famous guests past and present. Thinking about what I'd ask Louis if I had the chance to meet him formed the basis of the interview. I combined my own questions with those from other people in the Festival office, and sent to Abram, who then peppered the questions with his own thoughts and ideas. Tim Doyle was there filming for us. 

The result, was 40 minutes of fascinating dialogue between Abram and Richard. We got quite carried away, and the interview was far longer than planned. So long in fact that youtube wouldn't upload the clip in its entirety. So you have it in four parts. 

Happy watching. I suggest sitting down with a cuppa, one evening, and setting aside 40 minutes listening to Richard talk about Pops. It's 40 minutes well spent.

Part One:

Part Two:

Part Three:

Part Four: