Artie Shaw: His Life and Music (Bayou Jazz Lives) [Paperback]

John White (Author)

Book Description

Series: Bayou Jazz Lives | Publication Date: February 12, 2004

Artie Shaw led one of America's most accomplished big bands during the 1930s and 1940s, and has sold over 100 million records. An enigmatic figure, Shaw frequently tired of the music business, often forsaking it for extended periods. This study offers a narrative account and analytical assessment of the achievements and concerns of this hugely important musician.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"…[T]here are surprisingly few books on Shaw, so this study is welcome. Obviously well versed in his subject, White (Billie Holliday: Her Life and Time) focuses on the music, eschewing the juicier details of Shaw's life …[W]ell documented and organized. Recommended for jazz collections in public and academic libraries." -Library Journal, 5/1/504

“John White’s biography of Artie Shaw will amaze you …a balanced study of the jazz great, complete with commentaries, quotes, and photographs. If you don’t have this book yet, get a copy and steel back for a great reading adventure. If your Public Library does not own a copy, have it order one for its reading patrons. A fine, full study of Shaw, this biography is must reading for any person who loves jazz music and its performers. Well-written, this top-notch biography is highly recommended.” –jazzreview.com, 4/27/04

"Refreshingly free of the psychobabble so common in celebrity bios, White offers a readable narrative account and assessment of Shaw's achievemnts and concerns." (All About Jazz, August 2005 )

"Refreshingly free of the psychobabble so common in celebrity bios, White offers a readable narrative account and assessment of Shaw's achievemnts and concerns." (, )

About the Author

John White is Emeritus Professor of Philosophy of Education in the Department of Educational Foundations and Policy Studies at the Institute of Education, University of London, UK.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Continuum; Revised edition (February 12, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0826469159
• ISBN-13: 978-0826469151
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,617,304 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A FIRST CLASS TREATMENT OF ARTIE SHAW & HIS MUSIC, January 16, 2012

By 

MONTGOMERY (WASHINGTON, DC - U.S.A.) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Artie Shaw: His Life and Music (Bayou Jazz Lives) (Paperback)

While I have always loved good music (not matter what the genre), I confess to being profoundly tone-deaf when it comes to understanding the technical aspects of music itself.

So, when I was watching a TV docmentary series a few years ago about the development of jazz over time, I was very intrigued with the segment that touched upon the career of Artie Shaw (1910-2004), clarinetist par excellence and band leader from the 1930s to the early 1950s. I listened to Shaw playing "Begin the Beguine" (his first massive hit) with his band, and I was HOOKED. Intrigued. Hence, the moment I came across this book last year, I snatched it up. I wasn't disappointed. This book, while tracing the arc of Shaw's life, focuses specifically on his music. Indeed, one of Shaw's contemporaries said of him: "Shaw was unbelievable. He could improvise endlessly, on and on. Shaw's the greatest player I ever heard. It's hard to play the way he plays. It's not an overblown, orchestral style. He makes so many incredible shadings."

Yet, Artie Shaw was not content to devote his life wholly to music. He also tried his hand at writing short stories (as well as an autobiography), farming, fishing, film distribution, marksmanship, lecturing, and broadcasting. He was a very complex, fascinating man.

This book gave me a education, not only about the evolution of popular music from the Swing Era to the early 1950s, but also (thanks to Chapter 7 - " 'S Wonderful: Artie Shaw on Record"), a guide for diving deeper into Artie Shaw's music.

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Artie Shaw biography, July 15, 2009

By 

Arnold Chekow (Lenox, MA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Artie Shaw: His Life and Music (Bayou Jazz Lives) (Paperback)

I'm an Artie Shaw fan, and thought that I'd read all the material on Shaw. But, this one is little known, and is superb. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.