Customer Reviews

Artie Shaw: A Musical Biography and Discography (Studies in Jazz)

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Vladimir Simosko has written the book I have been trying to write since I became an Artie Shaw fan and collector in 1938 when I was 13. Mr. Simosko has assembled all the information I have collected over the years regarding recording dates, musicians involved, and covers many of the questions I have asked as well. Of most interest will be the years before Shaw recorded Begin the Beguine when he was a sideman with many large radio orchestras. Simosko uses conversations he had with Artie Shaw to backup much of the information. As Shaw wrote the introduction, the book becomes "authorized" and must be regarded as the ultimate record of one of the most complex jazz musicians in the jazz world, and at the age of 90 one of the last living members of the Big Band Era.

As an avid Artie Shaw fan, it's a rare treat to have a book so complete and thoroughly researched as this one is. I must state at the outset that this book is best intended for the Jazz Collector, Jazz Enthusiast or Artie Shaw collector. If you do not have an absolute love for jazz and a strong interest in Artie, or if you are just a casual Shaw listener, this book will be too much for you. You can always turn to other areas to get information about Shaw. However, if you are a collector of this man's music, or a teacher of jazz, then this book is a must. It has the most complete and accurate discography of Artie Shaw ever put together. Complete with a biography about Artie and given the fact that the man himself wrote the foreward, this book is definitive. I thought the book was wonderfully put together and endlessly fascinating. You will have so much greater appreciation about his music and the kind of things that musicians suffer through to make great music. Logically separated Chronilogically by era and by record label, it becomes very easy to research key era's of Shaw's life. There is even a section that breaksdown EVERY recording that vocalists have made with Shaw. If only other jazz books were writen like this! The one draw back is the price. It is VERY expensive. This is without question the most expensive book about a jazz artist I've ever purchased. Fortunately for me, a friend of mine bought me a $50 gift card and I used it towards the purchase of this book. At a whopping $80, you really better love the man and his music! Fortunately, I do and I have turned to this book often as more of Shaw's unreleased recordings continue to surface. The book also has rare photos and stories. It is truly a wonderful biography and an even better referrence book. I can not recommend this book enough to lovers of classic jazz. If you have a library of great music, compliment it with this great book of Shaw's musical career. You won't be sorry.

Wow! What can I say. I have to agree with the previous reviewers this is an excellent book on an artiste who was undoubtedly among the last of his era to be living and who,sadly,passed away in 2004 at the age of 93.

Thank goodness he was able to collaberate with the author on this definitive work!

If you want a well rounded picture of Artie Shaw, the man and his music, read this book for factual content and Shaw's own autobiography 'The Trouble With Cinderella,' for an inside view of the big band era and also of a fascinating and complex personality who was also a modernist in music in a number of regards.

Back to this book though. As a presenter and would be author myself I have found this book to be an invaluable reference guide. it is one of several that I constantly pull down from my book shelves when I am in the middle of researching something.

This is Mr. Simosko's life work and it shows. Alongside Ed Polic's work on the Glenn Miller Army Air Force Band and Russ Connor's two volumes on Benny Goodman, it stands as one of the definitive reference works of the period. Oh, the price? Shop around on your friendly on line store, discounts can be found!!

Drew. Drew Savage is an author and music enthusiast of forty years standing. He is thrilled to have been a guest presenter with the BBC

Also recommended:

The Trouble With Cinderella: An Outline of Identity

Listen to Shaw! A good selection of his music is still available. I like the 1940-42 bands with strings and also the 'last recordings.' Seek out the Musicraft sessions too, where Shaw introduced Mel Torme

King of the Clarinet 1938-39
1941-1942
Frenesi
What Is This Thing Called Love
Last Recordings: Rare and Unreleased