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Jazz Articles about Artie Shaw
The Swing Era Big Bands (1936 - 1941)
by Russell Perry
In the late 1930s and early 1940s, the very dance-oriented swinging music of the Big Bands was the most popular music around. Never had jazz been more central to mass culture. Just over the horizon were the draft of 1940 that eventually conscripted 10 million men, making it increasingly difficult to field top notch bands; war shortages of gasoline and shellac limiting both touring and recording; the economic infeasibility of touring with 16-member orchestras; the musicians strike and recording ban ...
read more100 Years of Artie Shaw
by George Kanzler
Artie ShawThe Last Recordings Vol. 1MusicMaster-Nimbus2009 Artie ShawThe Last Recordings Vol. 2MusicMaster-Nimbus2009 Artie ShawThe Last Recordings Vol. 3MusicMaster-Nimbus2009 Artie ShawThe Complete Spotlight Band 1945 BroadcastsHep Jazz2009 Artie ShawComplete Thesaurus Transcriptions 1949Hep Jazz2010
read moreArtie Shaw: Classic Bluebird and Victor Sessions
by Samuel Chell
Artie ShawClassic Bluebird and Victor SessionsMosaic Records2009Shortly after its critically acclaimed box set comprising clarinetist Benny Goodman's essential recordings-- The Columbia and Okeh Benny Goodman Orchestra Sessions (2009), which was released to coincide with the centenary of the King of Swing"--Mosaic Records has done it again. The Classic Artie Shaw Bluebird and Victor Sessions arrives in time for the 100th birthday (May 23, 2010) of the clarinetist who was the instrumental bobby-soxer ...
read moreObituary: Artie Shaw
by AAJ Staff
Artie Shaw died December 30th at the age of 94. It seems almost befitting that Shaw, the musician that despised fame, would pass on after all the magazines and newspapers went to press with their year-end tributes to the entertainers who died in 2004. The public and I have nothing to do with each other," Shaw said in a 2002 interview. I have succeeded in spite of the public." Well, the public may not have always accepted Shaw's music, but ...
read moreArtie Shaw: "Begin the Beguine"
by David Rickert
Dueling Clarinetists
During the Swing Era Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw were the clarinetists that reigned supreme and serious fans divided themselves into factions that loved one or the other. Goodman was the peddler of popular tunes who got the crowd on their feet, while Shaw was the musician's musician who preferred to make artistic statement that people listened to.
While both left their mark on the time period, nobody felt the tension between art and entertainment like ...
read moreArtie Shaw: Clarinetist and Bandleader, 1910-2004
by Mark Sabbatini
His use of strings and arrangements blending commercialism with interesting musical values was almost unique of its kind. But Shaw was a contrary soul, critical of any pandering to audiences." - The Penguin Guide To Jazz On CD," referring to Artie Shaw
For someone hoping to pitch swing-era big band music to today's counterculture, Artie Shaw might be the perfect choice.
The famous clarinetist died Dec. 29, 2003, at the age of 94 from ...
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