Jazz / Swing; Big Band
Recorded: 1938-Apr 17, 1945
Artie Shaw - clarinet
Helen Forrest - vocals
Billie Holiday - vocals
Georgie Auld - tenor saxophone
Hot Lips Page - trumpet
Roy Eldridge - trumpet
Billy Butterfield - trumpet
George Arus - trombone
Johnny Guarnieri - harpsichord
Buddy Rich - drums
This volume in RCA Bluebird's Centennial Collection series (whereby the label offers a single-disc CD compilation of classic tracks and a bonus DVD of rare clips from television, documentary, and film footage) focuses on Artie Shaw's late-'30s through mid-'40s period with the Victor and Bluebird labels. Eight of the tunes here originated with radio broadcasts. The 20 audio tracks commence with Shaw's biggest hit, "Begin the Beguine," featuring Georgie Auld, Tony Pastor, and George Wettling. "Grabtown Grapple" features a killer, if brief, solo by Roy Eldridge, and Oran "Hot Lips" Page is showcased on "Evensong" and "Suite No. Eight." The sound here is wonderful throughout. The DVD showcases the Shaw band as widely portrayed in Hollywood movies from the era. There are clips here from Class in Swing, Second Chorus, and an interview with Shaw from 2001 about its Self Portrait box set issue. This is an excellent package and will be a nice addition to any Shaw shelf.
---Thom Jurek, allmusic
Liner Note Author: Richard M. Sudhalter.
Disc 1: CD
Disc 2: DVD - featuring movie clips, live interview footage, an a short film entitled ARTIE'S CLASS IN SWING. |
