Final answer:
Joe 'King' Oliver was the New Orleans cornet master who mentored Louis Armstrong and suggested he replace him in Kid Ory's band.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cornet master and mentor who played a significant role in the musical development of Louis Armstrong was Joe "King" Oliver. After Armstrong's release from the Colored Waifs' Home, a reform school for boys in New Orleans, King Oliver provided him with lessons on the cornet. Oliver's support and mentorship were fundamental to Armstrong's early career. When Oliver decided to move to Chicago, he recommended Armstrong to replace him in the band he co-led with Kid Ory.
Louis Armstrong is an iconic figure in jazz history and his contribution to the genre is immense. He is remembered for his unique raspy voice, innovative skills in improvisation, and his title as the "most important improviser" in jazz history. His influence persists, impacting music even into the 21st century.
Armstrong's musical journey was greatly impacted by African American musical heritage and his mentorship under King Oliver is a testament to the deep roots of jazz and its intertwined history with black culture. Armstrong's legacy, as well as that of other jazz musicians, played a significant role in cultural movements such as the Harlem Renaissance, shaping the evolution of music for decades to come.