The Real Ambassadors — A Jazz Opera for Louis Armstrong by Dave & Iola Brubeck

The Real Ambassadors is a poignant tale of cultural exchange, anti-racism, and jazz history. And it's a love story — between life-long husband and wife partners, Iola & Dave Brubeck and their vision for a better world. 

Appalled by the racist treatment of Black jazz musicians in the United States in the 1950s and 60s, the Brubecks wrote a musical based on the Jazz Ambassadors Program established by President Eisenhower and the US State Department during the Cold War. In an effort to win hearts and minds, jazz musicians were sent out around the world to represent the freedom and creativity of America through their art form. Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie and most of the other Jazz Ambassadors were Black. The irony is that they were treated like royalty around the world, but could not stay in hotels or play in integrated bands in their own country.

Performed live only once, at the Monterey Jazz Festival in 1962, the Real Ambassadors featured Louis Armstrong, Carmen McCrae, Dave Brubeck and Lambert Hendricks and Bavan. 

The musical was a chance for Louis Armstrong to speak out about his deep feelings about racism and segregation in this country — feelings he rarely expressed publicly.

The story features original music, rare archival recorded letters sent back and forth between the Brubecks and Louis Armstrong about the project, rehearsal recordings and interviews with Dave and Iola Brubeck. Other voices include: the Brubecks' sons, Chris and Dan Brubeck, Keith Hatschek, author of the  book, "The Real Ambassadors,” Ricky Riccardi, Director of Research Collections for the Louis Armstrong House Museum, and singer/actress Yolande Bavan, the last surviving performer involved in the project.

Thanks to: Keith Hatschek, Chris Brubeck, Dan Brubeck, Ricky Riccardi, Yolande Bavan,  Lisa Cohen, and Wynton Marsalis.

Special thanks to: The Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation and the Louis Armstrong House Museum; Michael Bellacosa and the Brubeck Collection, Wilton Library, Wilton, Connecticut; The Complete Louis Armstrong Columbia & RCA Victor Studio Sessions 1946-66 Mosaic Records 270; The Milken Family Foundation Archive Oral History Project; and The Library of Congress.

Produced by The Kitchen Sisters (Nikki Silva and Davia Nelson) and Brandi Howell in collaboration with Jackson Spenner. Mixed by Jim McKee.