To mark its 140th anniversary, Henri SELMER Paris is reaffirming its commitment to the world of brass instruments with the launch of a resolutely modern trumpet designed for today's musicians. Named Satchmo, in tribute to Louis Armstrong, this high-end B♭ trumpet embodies a renaissance: that of rare French expertise, a rich musical heritage, and contemporary standards.
Satchmo, the new limited edition SELMER trumpet

A new trumpet for the 140th anniversary of Henri SELMER Paris

Although Henri SELMER Paris is best known today for its saxophones, clarinets, mouthpieces and reeds , the company has long been a major player in the manufacture of brass instruments. In 1929, SELMER expanded this activity by acquiring the workshops of Adolphe Sax & Cie, a symbolic legacy, followed by Millereau, whose expertise in brass instrument making would play a key role.
This led to the creation of iconic models such as the Balanced, played by Louis Armstrong, and the K-Modified, designed for the North American market. In the classical field, SELMER also made a name for itself through its collaboration with Maurice André, notably in the development of the modern piccolo trumpet.
With Satchmo, the Maison reconnects with its history, offering a modern and demanding instrument designed to meet the expectations of today's musicians. It's also the first time in history that SELMER has launched an instrument with a raw finish. This preserves all of the instrument's acoustic qualities, allowing it to "vibrate" freely. Aesthetically, each trumpet will develop a patina over time, making it completely unique.
Louis Armstrong, eternal inspiration
With this tribute model, the Maison wishes to commemorate the immense impact this musician had on jazz history, but also on the way we perceive sound, freedom and joy. |
A trumpet designed for today's jazz
The ambition is clear: to restore the French trumpet to its rightful place in the landscape of contemporary jazz.

Designed as an instrument with character, combining power, fluidity and elegance, it is the result of a unique synergy between the Henri SELMER Paris teams, luthier Jérôme Wiss – the only craftsman to make his brass instruments entirely in France – and two leading artists: Airelle Besson and Nicolas Gardel. Constant dialogue guided every stage of the design process, resulting in a trumpet that is resolutely contemporary and faithful to the SELMER spirit.
Described by some musicians as the "Adolphe Sax of the 21st century", Jérôme Wiss embodies a rare breed: acoustician, instrument maker, inventor and musician. He designs custom-made instruments for professional musicians in prestigious orchestras, and restores or reinvents forgotten brass instruments.
Passionate about instrument making and its history, he has also been a board member of the Association of Wind Instrument Collectors for several years.
Winner of the Victoires du Jazz and the Django Reinhardt Prize from the Académie du Jazz, Airelle Besson has developed a unique style where acoustics meet electronic textures and rigorous composition opens up to improvisation. She has performed alongside Youn Sun Nah, Nelson Veras, Sylvain Rifflet, as well as in her own quartet projects.
She has made a name for herself on the European jazz scene with her clear and powerful playing, virtuosic but never over the top, serving emotion and musicality.
A trumpeter who is both lyrical and incisive, Nicolas Gardel is equally at ease in large ensembles (he joined the Air Force big band in 2005) and in more intimate settings, notably in a duo with saxophonist Baptiste Herbin. His clear and virtuoso phrasing has led him to collaborate with prestigious and eclectic artists such as David Sanborn, Nicholas Payton, Pierrick Pédron, Electro Deluxe, Zebda, Orchestre de Chambre de Paris and as 1st trumpet with Michel Legrand's orchestra…

The Henri SELMER Paris team
The development of the Satchmo trumpet drew on the Maison's in-house expertise: detailed design archives, preserved spare parts and tools, and above all the presence of employees who contributed to the manufacture of brass instruments in the SELMER workshops.
Working closely with Jérôme Wiss and the test musicians, the team coordinated every stage of the project: monitoring development, validating technical and aesthetic choices, and adjusting prototypes.
resulted in an instrument that is true to the SELMER spirit, combining masterful heritage with modern requirements.
► Discover the instrument
► The history of SELMER trumpets