Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Artie Shaw---The Last Recordings; Rare and Unreleased

OK, here it is. This double album set is the best CD album in jazz. Why? Don't argue, just listen to the samples, read the reviews, then buy it.

To hear Billie Holliday singing Any Old Time, her one recording with the Artie Shaw band, click here.

Now, how hard was that?

OK, you still haven't bought it? I guess you need more information.

From Swingmusic.net

In 1954 Artie Shaw made his last public appearance as an instrumentalist when he put together a new Gramercy 5 made up of such superb modern musicians as pianist Hank Jones, guitarist Tal Farlow, bassist Tommy Potter, et al. The most comprehensive sampling of that group (as well as a number of others, going all the way back to 1936 and on up through this final set of records) can be heard on a four record album, now a rare item, released in 1984 by Book of the Month Records, entitled: Artie Shaw: A Legacy, which has also received rave reviews. Some of this music was re-issued on two double CD's by MusicMasters as Artie Shaw: The Last Recordings, Rare and Unreleased, and Artie Shaw: More Last Recordings, The Final Sessions.

From an Amazon reviewer:

As all the last recordings amply demonstrate -- there are three different sets in this series, and I unreservedly recommend the lot -- Artie Shaw was a joy and a wonder, a gloriously gifted and intelligent musician who retired from the business at the top of his form. What more need I say? Oh, very well, then: If it were possible to give this man's music six stars instead of merely five, I would.

I agree with this evaluation. I have scores of jazz CDs, but none are better than this.

But wait... here is something as good or better. The Artie Shaw big band of 1949 was a definite miss with his fans who just wanted to hear his greatest hits, but it is wonderful listening for people who want to listen to wonderful music. Shaw was ahead of his time, because he was writing for the i-pod and the in-car music system before these things existed. I am sorry that I don't have any samples for you to listen to but I have the CD and it is my current favorite and is getting a LOT of play. See also the Amazon reviews.












Artie Shaw 1949




Now, if you don't know anything about Artie Shaw, and are thinking "who the hell was this guy?". then I have two links for you to one-hour mp3 podcasts that you can download for free. It is fascinating stuff and has early 1970's interviews with Shaw in which you can hear much more about this music as well as listen to some of his hits.

http://www.goldenage-wtic.org/BB04-Shaw_Artie_Part1.mp3

http://www.goldenage-wtic.org/BB05-Shaw_Artie_Part2.mp3

You can save the file to your hard drive by placing your curser over the link,
pressing the right mouse button, and selecting "save target as . . ."
With a T1, cable modem, or DSL this might take 1-3 minutes.


For even more on Artie Shaw, including a chance to hear some more of his greatest hits, interviews, and reviews of his hand-picked box set of 2002, try this link to National Public Radio. It rocks.

To hear Billie Holliday singing Any Old Time, her one recording with the band, but a very good one, click here,and for a kick-ass rendition of These Foolish Things here.

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