Customer Reviews

Woody Shaw Live 3

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While Woody Shaw remains among the most underrated of
Jazz giants, the Live CDs released by High Note Records have
done a great service in showcasing the tempestuous daring and
lyrical genius of the Jersey-raised trumpet master. From
the early 1960s alongside Eric Dolphy and Larry Young,
through his own crusading recordings through the 1970s to
his death in the late 1980s, Shaw placed his singular brand
of compositional finesse and group dynamics upon the world
of Music. In a field frequently overshadowed by the cocktail
antics of Fusion (read "Smooth Jazz" these days), and the
vested mummery of New Orleans archivists
posing as Swing classicists, Shaw's is a robust,
head-tipping, smoothly stalking Jazz which
romps the place and sounds like nothing
but its own self.

The 3rd of these live recordings is one for the surround system
to perk up your mood on any kind of day. With trombonist Steve
Turre hooking with Shaw on most tracks, we have an impeccable
brass and rhythm sound full of rowdy snap and eloquent style.
Having Shaw's longtime partner, the astonishing drummer Victor
Lewis, honing the thunder to a fine rhapsodic crispness, makes
the session all the more special (Try Lewis' "Seventh Avenue"
for a taste of what a remarkable composer he still is).

A little something special? Hear heart-rending showcases
of Shaw balladry, "Organ Grinder" and "Little Red's Fantasy",
presented by the composer singing his instrumental heart out
with rhythm alone; the beguiling tone and nimble invocation
of a trumpeter at home with the deeps and the narrows of feeling,
perception, and presentation.

Want Jazz at its finest? Try some of this.

This recording captures a great player, Woody Shaw in top form leading a wonderful group in live performances. The recorded sound is quite good as well. Woody and the group stretch out on some cooking tunes like Ginseng People, Organ Grinder and Seventh Avenue. Little Red's Fantasy is more a of ballad but this one of Woody's classic compositions. I was fortunate enough (old enough?) to have seen this group perform in person back in the early 80's. The music was fantastic. This album (and the other Live releases from High Note) capture the feeling of the group well. Woody Shaw was fabulous trumpet player. He was a great soloist and leader. He is greatly missed. This album reminds of what a wonderful artist he was.