Louis Armstrong House Museum Gala Honors Jazz Icon Wynton Marsalis

On Thursday, June 18, the Louis Armstrong House Museum honored jazz icon Wynton Marsalis and longtime supporter of the arts Morgan Stanley at its annual gala at 583 Park Avenue.

Marsalis, the Pulitzer Prize-winning musician and artistic director of Jazz at Lincoln Center, was recognized for his contributions to jazz and music education, while Morgan Stanley was honored for its longstanding support of arts and cultural organizations.

The event also marked the 100th anniversary of Louis Armstrong’s Hot Five recordings, a milestone in jazz history.

The annual fundraising gala supports the mission of the Louis Armstrong House Museum, located in Armstrong’s former home in Queens. The museum preserves the musician’s legacy through its historic house, archives and educational programs.

The gala’s guests were treated to a live performance by an all-star ensemble led by Musical Director Bruce Harris (trumpet). The group featured Jon-Erik Kellso (trumpet), Wycliffe Gordon (trombone), Evan Arntzen (clarinet and saxophone), Russell Hall (bass), Ricky Riccardi (piano) and Herlin Riley (drums).

Several members of the ensemble have deep connections to the music and legacy of Armstrong. Gordon was deeply influenced by Armstrong, while Riley’s grandfather was a classmate and bandmate of Armstrong. Meanwhile, Riccardi serves as Director of Research Collections for the Louis Armstrong House Museum and is widely regarded as one of the leading scholars of Armstrong’s life and music.

The evening underscored the museum’s ongoing mission to preserve and share the legacy of one of America’s most influential musicians while celebrating those who continue to advance the art form he helped define.