Ricky Riccardi News

The 64th Annual GRAMMY Awards featured a tribute to Stephen Sondheim, a win for Barlow and Bear's 'Unofficial Bridgerton Musical,' Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett for their 'Love For Sale' Cole Porter duets album, Olivia Rodrigo, and more. Check out the full list of winners now!

Today, the Louis Armstrong House Museum (LAHM) launched a new digital guide on the free cultural app created by Bloomberg Philanthropies.

Mosaic Records has announced the April 10, 2021 release of The Complete Louis Armstrong Columbia & RCA Victor Studio Sessions 1946 - 66, a 7-CD boxed set that will take listeners into the studio with Armstrong in a way never previously imaginable.

The Town Hall Foundation's Board of Trustees and Lawrence Zucker, Executive Director, have announced that Melay Araya has been named the new Artistic Director of the renowned performing arts venue. Since 2018, Araya worked at Town Hall in the joint role of Associate Artistic Director and Archivist.

Dot Time Records is proud to announce the September 27th release of Armstrong in Europe. Part of Dot Time's Legacy Series, and the fourth Armstrong release, Armstrong in Europe features the audio from two recordings of quintessential European performances by the great Louis Armstrong which were recovered from the archives of the Louis Armstrong House Museum.  Tracks 1-9 on the CD release of Armstrong in Europe feature the audio from a 1948 performance recorded from Louis Armstrong and His All Stars' run at the Nice Opera House in Paris.  This historical concert marked Armstrong's performance at the first ever Nice International Jazz Festival.  Tracks 10-16 feature the audio from a Titania Palast, Berlin recording of Louis and his All Stars which was initially broadcasted on RIAS (Radio in the American Sector).  Accompanying this CD and digital release will be a stunning vinyl package of Armstrong in Germany released on the same date.  The Nice Opera House performance features a 46 year old Louis Armstrong in his musical prime, with Jack Teagarden on trombone and vocals, Barney Bigardon clarinet, Earl “Fatha” Hines on piano, Arvell Shaw on bass, and Sid Catlett on drums.  Armstrong's band in 1952, features Trummy Young on trombone, Bob McCracken on clarinet and vocals, Marty Napoleon on piano, Arvell Shaw on bass, Cozy Cole on drums and Velma Middleton on vocals.  Both European performances demonstrate Armstrong's stunning musicality, expert showmanship and ferocious leadership.

Throughout February, Queens Library will celebrate Black History Month with more than 100 free events and programs at all 62 of its branches. Inspired by Maya Angelou's works, this year's theme, "Black Migrations: Traveling Shoes," seeks to pay homage to the African-American diaspora, highlighting the movement and cultural contributions of people of African descent around the world.

By the time Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong collaborated on their first duet together, they were each already jazz giants. Fitzgerald was an acclaimed solo artist for Decca with many hits and more than 200 songs under her young belt, first with the Chick Webb Orchestra and then as leader of her own big band.

Dot Time Records is pleased to announce that Ricky Riccardi, the Director of Research Collections for the Louis Armstrong House Museum has been commissioned to write the liner notes for the four upcoming productions of never previously release material from the Louis Armstrong Archives on its Legends series.

Louis Armstrong was one of the most recognizable men in the world. His smile, his voice, his trumpet all set the standard for the one true American art form called “jazz.”

This February for Black History Month, the Louis Armstrong House Museum will honor the most influential band in jazz history, Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five through its new exhibit: Hotter Than That - 90 Years of Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five. The Hot Five began recording in November 1925 but really hit their stride with their records of February 1926, including hits such as 'Heebie Jeebies' and 'Cornet Chop Suey.'

Court's production of Satchmo will be part of a community-wide Louis Armstrong Festival, happening in partnership with The Beverly Arts Center, The Logan Center at the University of Chicago, The Promontory, South Shore Jazz Coalition, The Louis Armstrong House Museum and the Louis Armstrong Archives at Queens College New York. This community-wide festival will help audiences deepen their understanding of Armstrong's life through musical performances, historical exhibits, symposium, talk-backs and film.

The Louis Armstrong House Museum's new exhibit Hotter Than That: 90 Years of Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five celebrates these landmark recordings that were the first records ever to be issued under Armstrong's own name. This exhibit represents the ground breaking recorded legacy of Louis Armstrong and this immortal group, whose music will continue to influence future generations. As Armstrong himself said of his Hot Five recordings in 1970, 'Ain't nothing like it since, and can't nobody play nothing like it now. My oldest record, can't nobody touch it.'

Court Theatre, under the leadership of Artistic Director Charles Newell and Executive Director Stephen J. Albert, announces casting for the Midwest Premier of Terry Teachout's Satchmo at the Waldorf, directed by Charles Newell.

The Louis Armstrong House Museum presents CoolYule! today, December 6, 2014 to welcome the holiday season. CoolYule! is the museum's first tree lighting ceremony featuring live jazz with Ben Flocks Trio and holiday treats. CoolYule! is free and open to the public. Downbeat for Ben Flocks Trio begins at 4:00 pm. The tree will be lit at 4:30pm in the Armstrong's Japanese inspired garden.

The Louis Armstrong House Museum presents CoolYule! on Saturday, December 6, 2014 to welcome the holiday season. CoolYule! is the museum's first tree lighting ceremony featuring live jazz with Ben Flocks Trio and holiday treats. CoolYule! is free and open to the public. Downbeat for Ben Flocks Trio begins at 4:00 pm. The tree will be lit at 4:30pm in the Armstrong's Japanese inspired garden.

CUNY TV's ARTS IN THE CITY, hosted by Carol Anne Riddell from The Haunted Pumpkin Garden at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx, celebrates October beginning today, Oct. 10 (2014) at 10am, 3pm and 8:30pm on CUNY TV*. The show is repeated Sunday 10/12 at noon and returns Friday 10/24 at 10am, 3pm and 8:30pm and on Sunday 10/26 at noon on CUNY TV. On and after Oct. 10, the program may be viewed anytime on www.cuny.tv.

CUNY TV's ARTS IN THE CITY, hosted by Carol Anne Riddell from The Haunted Pumpkin Garden at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx, celebrates October beginning Friday, Oct. 10 (2014) at 10am, 3pm and 8:30pm on CUNY TV*.

To celebrate the significance of the Louis Armstrong Archives, the Louis Armstrong House Museum debuts the new exhibit: 20 Years of the Louis Armstrong Archives. The exhibit features a selection of one-of-a-kind mementos from the different research collections many of which are on public display for the first time.

To celebrate the significance of the Louis Armstrong Archives, the Louis Armstrong House Museum debuts the new exhibit: 20 Years of the Louis Armstrong Archives. The exhibit features a selection of one-of-a-kind mementos from the different research collections many of which are on public display for the first time.

Today, May 10th, 2014 the Louis Armstrong House Museum and the Museum of the Moving Image will host a dessert reception and special screening of the beloved film musical Hello, Dolly! in honor of Ambassador Satch knocking the Fab Four off Billboards' #1 spot at the height of Beatlemania.