Category: All That Jazz

Everyone knows that Artie Shaw was the “King of the Clarinet,” he was an infamous lover, and a brave soldier. Few know anything beyond that! Here are some snippets of the unknown Artie Shaw: From 1984 until 1996, Artie was an Honorary Vice-President of the swimming federation, FINA. When given the opportunity to write a… Continue reading 12 Things that Most Don’t Know About the Great Artie Shaw

To play any instrument is a form of slavery,” he observed. “You’ve got to really sit down and work at it all the time, if you want to do it well. Artie Shaw Tweet Table of Contents Early life (Born Arthur Jacob Arshawsky on May 23, 1910 – Dec. 30, 2004) Artie Shaw was born… Continue reading A Tribute to Artie Shaw: The King of Clarinet

The King of the clarinet, Artie Shaw, was a great hero the big band and swing jazz age. His off the chart talent, good looks, and sex drive made him the dream of every gossip columnist. He went through a pile of marriages, eight in total, including some of the biggest film stars of the… Continue reading The Artie Shaw Spouse Carousel

Portrait of Pee Wee Russell, Dave Tough, and Max Kaminsky, Eddie Condon’s, New York, N.Y., between 1946 and 1948 Remembering Pee Wee Russell (March 27, 1906 – February 15, 1969) By Don Rouse These are remembrances that Jimmy Hamilton, a clarinetist and long-time friend of Pee Wee Russell, has of the time when he knew… Continue reading Remembering Clarinet Great: Pee Wee Russell

Table of Contents The term Afro-Latin covers a huge variety of music, resulting from the combination of elements of African styles with the Spanish, Portuguese, and even French cultures transplanted to South and Central America. The blend was achieved earlier and more thoroughly than any such hybrid in North American music before the 1970s –… Continue reading Afro-Latin Jazz to Modern Creative Jazz

Table of Contents Cool Jazz Cool jazz followed bop but was entirely different in mood, in its approach to arranging, and even in its choices of instruments. World War II was over-the country was relaxed and jazz relaxed. In this era, which began in 1947, many instruments were used in jazz for the first time.… Continue reading From Cool Jazz to Soul Jazz

Table of Contents Scat “Anyone who attempts to sing extemporaneously, that is scat, will tell you that the hardest aspect of that kind of singing is to stay in tune. You are wondering all over the scales, the notes coming out of your mouth a millisecond after you think of them.” Mel Torme Tweet Scat… Continue reading Scat and Bebop Jazz History