Louis Armstrong, nicknamed “Satchmo”, grew up in New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz. What many people don’t know is that early in his career he played the cornet, an instrument closely related to the trumpet but slightly smaller and with a softer sound. It was only later that he made the switch to the trumpet, the instrument with which he would cement his name forever.

He transformed jazz from a group music form into an art form centred on the soloist. His improvisations were groundbreaking, and the musicians who came after him took note.

As a singer, Armstrong also reached a broad audience that extended well beyond dedicated jazz fans. His performances had something infectious about them: technical mastery combined with a warmth that cannot be taught. That made him beloved by audiences the world over, from Harlem to Paris.

A handy memory aid for the music round: many jazz icons from New Orleans began their careers with brass instruments such as the cornet or the trumpet.