Our series of posts published in late 2025 on the occasion of the centennial of the very first Hot Five recording session, November 12, 1925. Includes an in-depth look at that first session, the impact of Lillian Hardin Armstrong, clippings from Louis and Lil’s scrapbooks, contemporary coverage of the Hot Five recordings, the story of George Avakian, early critical responses to the records, the Columbia reissue albums of the 1940s and 1950s, an article Louis wrote for Esquire, over an hour of Louis listening and commenting on the Hot Five records for the Voice of America, a 2025 tribute concert, and much more. Long live the Hot Five!
Hot Five Centennial Celebration Part 1: Birth of the Hot
Hot Five Centennial Celebration Part 2: Archival Presentation and Listening Session
Hot Five Centennial Celebration Part 3: The Scrapbooks
Hot Five Centennial Celebration Part 4: Contemporary Coverage of the Hot Five 1926-1940
Hot Five Centennial Celebration Part 5: George Avakian and the Release of “King Louis”
Hot Five Centennial Celebration Part 6: Columbia Records Reissue Albums of the 1940s
Hot Five Centennial Celebration Part 7: Columbia Long-Playing Albums of the 1950s
Hot Five Centennial Celebration Part 8: Louis Spins Records for the Voice of America, July 1956
Hot Five Centennial Celebration Part 9: Louis Armstrong House Museum Concert
Hot Five Centennial Celebration Part 10: Later Reissues in the LP and CD Eras
