When Franklin Cohen, the principal clarinetist of the Cleveland Orchestra, was to be featured playing Mr. Shaw's Concerto for Clarinet, he listened to Mr. Shaw's recording of the work and said he found his playing unbelievable. “Shaw is the greatest player I ever heard," he said. “It's hard to play the way he plays. He makes so many incredible shadings." “Begin The Beguine" “Frenesi" “Stardust - They Are Landmarks In Jazz
When band leader Artie Shaw put down his clarinet in 1954 - vowing never to play again - he made a “forever" decision most of us could never contemplate. He had been the #1 bandleader in the world. He had recorded countless tunes that were considered then, and will be thought of always, as classics. Along with one or two other names, none ranked higher as an innovator on his instrument. Add to that his matinee idol, dashing good looks that made him admired across the globe. Give all that up?
Yet, before he did, Shaw created a body of work that few artists will ever achieve. And the best of that music is finally available in a massive Mosaic volume. This limited edition collection presents all the recordings that focused on instrumentals by his big band, the Gramercy 5 and representative vocal performances by Tony Pastor, Billie Holiday, Hot Lips Page and Lena Horne.
Read any evaluation of Shaw's work, and so often a song title will be followed by the phrase “which became a classic." Those classics are all here. From early recordings as a bandleader, which almost instantaneously established him as a star, to his underappreciated post-War recordings, Mosaic's collection presents all his most famous performances, and many previously-unheard alternates.
If you are unfamiliar with Shaw's work, prepare to be surprised. While so many other lauded artists of the swing era sound land-locked by the idiom, Shaw's music remains eminently listenable to modern ears.
Artie Shaw Like You've Never Heard - Superior Audio Restoration
Artie Shaw's tone soared ethereally, and his song sense bordered on perfection. Witness Shaw's half-chorus in his 1940 recording of “Stardust." The entire recording, from top to bottom, is like something from another world. Billy Butterfield's trumpet lead-in couldn't be more gorgeously bell-like, and trombonist Jack Jenney finishes Shaw's chorus on some kind of cloud. There isn't one note out of place, and you'd be hard pressed to find a more perfect recording.
Barney Bigard, a staple of the Ellington band from 1927-1942 stated that Shaw made “…the clarinet sound unusually beautiful in the upper register. The guy could execute like mad…(and) I like Artie for the things that were almost impossible to do on the clarinet." His solo efforts were clean, clear and soaring with a strong and polished attack that was full of melodic invention. A weaving of ideas that perfectly connected one thought to another.
Our set includes over 150 tracks on 7 CDs, and presents for the first time anywhere 12 unissued performances. To offer the finest sound possible, we've located the original metal parts and pristine vinyl test pressings from the Victor and Bluebird vault. Our lavish booklet includes an appreciation and session analysis by John McDonough and features many rare photographs of Shaw and his bandmates. Don't miss out on owning this important collection.
Limited Edition: 5000 copies
7 CDs - $119.00
