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

~ Artie Shaw (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Artie Shaw, the world famous clarinet-playing bandleader who became popular during the Swing Era, was immersed in the music business as a performer for 30 years, from the summer of 1924, when he began to study saxophone, until the summer of 1954, when he stopped performing. This period of activity is the focus of this musical biography and discography, a detailed account of Shaw's musical career and recorded output. The book begins with a summary of Shaw's career in the contexts of jazz history and social setting, then moves into more detail. The chronologically arranged sections, mirroring each phase of his career, incorporate contemporary reviews and interview quotes to create an insightful narrative. The discography lists all known recordings and preferred issues of them, and is separate from the text to facilitate easy reference. Includes appendixes and index.

About the Author

Vladimir Simosko (M.L.S., Rutgers University) is Music Librarian at the University of Manitoba and former Curator of the Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers University. He is the author of a critically-acclaimed biography of Eric Dolphy (Smithsonian Institution Press) and "Serge Chaloff" (Scarecrow Press, 1998).

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: The Scarecrow Press, Inc. (January 28, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810833972
• ISBN-13: 978-0810833975
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #715,767 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Artie Shaw: A Musical Biography and Discography by Simosko, October 16, 2000

By	Richard H. Coyle (Port Washington, NY USA) - See all my reviews

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.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everthing you wanted to know about Arite Shaw and then some!, October 1, 2007

By	Brian H. Williams (Manteca, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

5.0 out of 5 stars It's A Shaw Thing!, December 2, 2007

By	Drew - See all my reviews

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