Louis Armstrong's "West End Blues" is a revolutionary jazz recording that changed the course of American music forever. Recorded in 1928 with his Hot Five, this King Oliver composition became one of the most important jazz recordings ever made, showcasing Armstrong's innovative trumpet playing and establishing him as the first true jazz soloist.

The track opens with Armstrong's famous cadenza, a 12-second introduction that demonstrated unprecedented technical skill and musical imagination. His solo playing throughout the piece introduced concepts like extended improvisation, melodic development, and rhythmic freedom that would become fundamental to jazz. The recording also features Earl Hines on piano, whose innovative playing helped establish the piano as a solo instrument in jazz.

Fun fact: "West End Blues" was recorded during the height of the Jazz Age in Chicago, when the city was the center of the jazz universe. This recording marked the moment when jazz evolved from ensemble music to a soloist's art form, influencing every jazz musician who followed. Armstrong's performance on this track established him as the first jazz superstar and helped transform jazz from regional dance music into a sophisticated art form recognized worldwide.