The first Cityfolk jazz concert of the season celebrates legendary horn players of New Orleans such as Joe “King” Oliver and Louis Armstrong.

The show features Dave Greer’s Classic Jazz Stompers along with cornet virtuoso Randy Reinhart on stage at Gilly’s this Saturday night. Based in Dayton, Greer’s eight-member ensemble specializes in early jazz tunes and popular songs from the 1920s and 30s.

“We plan to play the music of the King (Oliver) and his genius protégé (Armstrong), who carried jazz from its roots to the myriad branches it offers to 21st century ears,” bandleader Dave Greer said. “While this music will soon be 100 years old, it’s always as fresh and new as the moment it’s played.”

“Louis Armstrong was such a genius,” said guest soloist Reinhart. “I’d put him in the same category as Mozart and Beethoven.”

Pioneering jazz bands of the early 20th century often included the cornet, a brass instrument that resembles a trumpet. “I prefer the cornet to the trumpet in smaller groups,” Reinhart said. “I think the cornet can be more expressive and lyrical.”

Reinhart’s cornet solos are clearly stated, with decorated melodies that bounce and swing. They blend skillfully with the overlapping musical lines of horns and reeds that are the trademark of early jazz improvisation.

“Since the 1970s, Randy has been ranked among the top jazz cornet players in the country,” Greer said. “We’re looking forward to pairing him with our own Chris Moore on cornet.”

Though Reinhart is known for his interpretations of classic jazz, he acknowledges that his playing has been influenced by later musicians like Miles Davis and Doc Severinsen.

“It’s true of every jazz musician that he’s going to play his own experiences,” he said. “Everybody you hear, you take bits and pieces of and incorporate it into your style over the years.”

Reinhart works regularly in New York City jazz clubs, but is looking forward to visiting Dayton and playing in a new place with new collaborators. “It keeps everything fresh and alive,” he said. “That way, I’m not just doing it the same way every time.”