The Last Of Shaw
Originally posted: Monday, January 13, 2020
Until reading the extensive liner notes to this release, I had forgotten that Artie Shaw had completely walked away from performing and recording in 1954. This 2 CD set gives us recordings of two of those performances. Artie has given various reasons why he quit performing. Perfectionism, bands that could not play at the same level as him and here in these liner notes, he explains that he wanted play different things but all the crowds wanted were the hits. He explains that and much more in the extensive notes that are part of the download. AllMusic gives it a good review as well: The double-CD sets contains a healthy share of the recordings the clarinetist made with his final Gramercy Five, a unit that included pianist Hank Jones, either Tal Farlow or Joe Puma on guitar and usually Joe Roland's vibes. Unlike his longtime competitor Benny Goodman, Shaw felt perfectly comfortable with younger modernists. In fact his own clarinet playing had evolved through the years and sometimes he hints strongly at Buddy DeFranco without losing his own musical personality during these 20 performances. This is very rewarding music that makes one especially regret that Artie Shaw chose to give up the clarinet after this band ran its course. Paul has given us the mother load of fine music and the man himself talking about the finer points of it. Thanks, Paul! Track List: 1.1 Imagination 1.2 Besame Mucho 1.3 My Funny Valentine 1.4 Too Marvelous For Words 1.5 I Can't Get Started 1.6 The Sad Sack 1.7 Dancing On The Ceiling 1.8 Someone To Watch Over Me 1.9 Mysterioso 1.10 The Chaser 2.1 Pied Piper Theme 2.2 Love Of My Life 2.3 Rough Ridin' 2.4 Yesterdays 2.5 Lyric 2.6 Bewitched, Bothered & Bewildered 2.7 Lugubrious 2.8 S'posin' 2.9 Tenderly 2.10 When The Quail Come Back To San Quentin