One Man Band Tribute to Louis Armstrong

By Tracey Weiss

Photos by Tracey Weiss

Louis Armstrong played coronet, not trumpet, until he joined the Fletcher Henderson Band at age 23. The bandleader took one look at his coronet and sent him off with a fellow band member to get a trumpet to better blend with the Henderson orchestra's brass section.

That was one of many stories that musician Vincent Cassotta told in between songs such as “Ain’t Misbehavin,” “I’ve Got Rhythm,” “Do Your Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans?” during his tribute to the Armstrong and his music. The musical event was held in early February to celebrate him during Black History Month and was held at the Elmwood

Vincent Cassotta performed last month at the Elmwood Senior Center to pay tribute to Louis Armstorng during Black History Month.

Community Center. The audience of more than 30 was appreciative, nodding and swaying in time to Cassotta’s performance.

For his one-man performance, Cassotta chose to play a coronet and did some solos on a keyboard/synthesizer. According to his biography, Cassotta is an accomplished lead and jazz trumpet player who has toured nationally with The Glenn Miller Orchestra. He has also performed with Frank Sinatra, The Manhattan Transfer, Phil Woods, Dave McKenna, Ella Fitzgerald, Sergio Franchi, The Four Tops, Sammy Davis Junior, Andy Williams, The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra and Frankie Valli. Vin has performed in numerous pit orchestras at the Bushnell Auditorium, Goodspeed Opera House and Oakdale Theatre for productions such as Annie, Grease, La Cage Aux Folles, The Music Man and All That Jazz. He was the founder and director of the Enfield Community Jazz Ensemble and was a former conductor of the CCSU Pep Band . He taught music in the Enfield Public Schools for 39 years before retiring in 2024. WHL