Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp

The Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp is a 25-year-old music education program created in New Orleans in 1995 to honor the city’s native son Louis Armstrong and to augment the lack of music education in schools.  The program is offered to young music students between 10 and 21 years old.  Students must be actively involved in music education in school or private instructions and must have been playing their instrument for a minimum of two years.

Classes are offered in trumpet, trombone, saxophone, clarinet, flute, guitar, piano, drums, percussions, electric and upright bass, vocals, strings, composition, swing dance and money management. The program is housed at Loyola University New Orleans and presented by the New Orleans Arts and Cultural Host Committee.

World renowned Jazz avante gardist Edward “Kidd” Jordan serves as the camp’s artistic director. Jazz Camp hosts an annual artist-in-residence. Former artists-in-residence include Donald Byrd, Candido Camero, George Duke, Jon Faddis, Wycliffe Gordon, Barry Harris, Chico Hamilton, Donald Harrison Jr., Jimmy Heath, Tootie Heath, Wynton Marsalis, David Murray, William Parker, Nicholas Payton, Rufus Reid, Herlin Riley, Patrice Rushen, Bobby Sanabria, Bob Stewart, Cecil Taylor, Clark Terry, Treme Brass Band, Charenee Wade, and Reggie Workman. Norma “Queen of Swing” Miller serves as the national swing dance resident annually.

The camp has a reputation of excellence with an impressive list of former students — Gregory Agid, Shamarr Allen, Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews, Jon Batiste, Dr. Courtney Bryan, Calvin Johnson, Christian Scott, Big Sammie Williams and many others.

Visit the Louis Armstrong Jazz Camp website