Music · 1928
Jazz Revolution and Orchestral Masterpieces
In 1928, the music world vibrated with groundbreaking jazz solos, theatrical premieres, and avant-garde orchestral works. From Berlin cabarets to Chicago recording studios, artists redefined popular and classical soundscapes on the eve of the Great Depression.
- Louis Armstrong | Single | USA
West End Blues
Louis Armstrong's dazzling trumpet cadenza on this June recording irrevocably transformed jazz from an ensemble style into a soloist's art form.
- Maurice Ravel | Classical Premiere | France
Boléro
Maurice Ravel’s hypnotic, relentlessly building orchestral masterpiece premiered at the Paris Opéra with choreography by Bronislava Nijinska.
- George Gershwin | Orchestral | USA
An American in Paris
George Gershwin brought genuine Parisian taxi horns into Carnegie Hall for the triumphant debut of his jazzy symphonic poem.
- Kurt Weill & Bertolt Brecht | Germany
Die Dreigroschenoper (The Threepenny Opera)
Premiering in Berlin, this satirical musical featuring 'Mack the Knife' captivated European audiences with its cynical jazz-influenced score.
- Pinetop Smith | Single | USA
Pine Top's Boogie Woogie
Clarence 'Pinetop' Smith recorded this energetic piano track, giving a name and national popularity to the boogie-woogie genre.
- Jimmie Rodgers | Single | USA
Blue Yodel No. 1 (T for Texas)
Jimmie Rodgers scored a massive hit that established him as country music's first superstar, blending blues with his signature yodel.
- Blind Willie McTell | Blues Single | USA
Statesboro Blues
Blind Willie McTell recorded his seminal Piedmont blues classic in Atlanta, showcasing his expressive vocal style and intricate twelve-string guitar technique.
- Disney / Sound Film Debut | USA
Steamboat Willie
Mickey Mouse debuted in cinema's first cartoon with fully synchronized sound and score, popularizing the song 'Steamboat Bill' for a new generation.
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