The audience might not know it, but there were actually two Armstrongs present on the stage at that moment – ​​the actor playing the great trumpeter and one of his real-life descendants. In an act of luck casting, the pianist is Brandon Louis Armstrong, great-great nephew of the music legend.

“That moment always feels like I – as Brandon – am talking to my great-great-uncle,” he says. “I just get to spend a moment talking to her and ask if she’s OK and hear her voice.”

The young Armstrong is making his Broadway debut in “A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical,” playing multiple roles as a pianist, a teacher and a student of Louis Armstrong himself.

“I was cautious about how I would be able to step into this world and connect with part of my family history and my lineage,” he says. “I’m very grateful and very grateful and very happy.” Am.” behind the smile

“A Wonderful World” – starring Tony Award winner James Monroe Iglehart and occasional James T. Lane in the title role – is a stage bio of one of jazz’s most influential personalities, a composer best known for such hits as “Hello, Dolly,” “Cheeky Too ” Known for. Cheeks” and “A Wonderful World.”

The musical highlights his rise from poverty behind his broad smile, his four marriages and battles with racism from New Orleans Klansmen to Chicago thugs to Hollywood bigots. He emerges from it with a transcendent power, warts and all.

“The message behind it is that jazz is the choices we make between notes,” says the younger Armstrong. “It’s not about making the right choice every time. It’s about making a choice and allowing yourself to be present where those choices may take you.” Show Choir and ‘Hamilton’

The younger Armstrong was born and raised in Los Angeles. His home was always full of music, but no one in his family was a musician or wanted to perform.

“I grew up with a lot of jazz playing in the house, a lot of gospel, a lot of R&B, a lot of hip-hop. My mom was also big into ’80s hair metal bands and things like that,” he says. “I’d rather listen to Guns N’ Roses and then Kenny Rogers than listen to Motown. It was always a tapestry of music.”

He became charmed by his high school show choir and was invited to join it – all boys were included because muscles were needed to lift the girls – and later performed in regionals of the classic musical “Ragtime.” Was stunned to see the theater production.

“I was so impressed by it, I just said, ‘I don’t care if I’m going to be sweeping the floor when it’s over.’ I just want to be a part of whatever it is,” he recalls. .

He graduated from The American Musical and Dramatic Academy and after some local stage work – including playing the role of Donkey in “Shrek” – embarked on the third national tour of “Hamilton”, which opened in 2019 at the Lynn -Starring Manuel Miranda debuted in Puerto Rico. no name will be left out

Armstrong did not use his family name to move forward. When he erupted, his famous lineage was not even mentioned in press interviews. “Surprisingly, I never thought about doing that,” he says. “On this particular show, it’s inevitable.”

Iglehart, also a co-director, recalls Armstrong walking into the rehearsal room and saying his name. “We say, ‘How nice.’ He says, ‘No, no, I belong.'” She got the job based on her voice and acting – not her name.

“We really did it based on talent,” Iglehart says. “I always feel like the most talented person for the show should be the one who is in it. But then the fact that it was his lineage, we felt like it was like a sign.

“A Wonderful World” is a way to honor not only Louis Armstrong but also Brandon’s grandfather, Louis Henry Armstrong, who would tell stories about his glorious lineage and would often take Brandon after school to teach him jazz music. Used to go there, which caused a lot of embarrassment in his teenage years.

“I just think in those moments how incredibly proud they would be of something like this,” he says. “It’s like the best kind of therapy every night.”

While there is an actual Armstrong in the cast, fellow actors and creators did not call Brandon to ask what Louis would think of a line or scene. This is because Louis Armstrong left many rich writings about his ideas.

“The heartbeat that our show is beating with – and I like it that way – is the heartbeat that’s being told through Lewis’s voice, of someone coming in and arbitrarily finding themselves As opposed to putting it in there,” the younger Armstrong said.

In addition to being the rehearsal pianist, serving in the group, and playing the part of the New Orleans music teacher who recognized Louis Armstrong’s talent, Brandon knows that one day he will be asked to go after his great-great uncle.

“I think my biggest worry when that happens is trying not to cry during the entire show,” he laughs. “Somehow the universe has paved this path for me that has gotten me here. ​​​​​​​Having a chance to literally get on stage and pick up that baton.”

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