Artie Shaw: Concerto for Clarinet

[Msilikenachos]

Man, Shaw makes that piece of ebony smoke like a cigar. :)

[p3t3rVL12]

On the other end of the spectrum (kinda, because it's still improv) -- Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Roger Waters, Brian Jones (who also played clarinet when he was younger :-) )

[Pitsku]

Just been listening to Artie Shaw on Tony Palmer's magnificent 'All You Need is Love' history of popular music. Obviously a great man. Well worth getting Palmer's box set.

[Rougeneiara]

Last note... wtf... it was in TUNE. First time hearing him play. Mind = BLOWN.

[at78rpm]

Artie Shaw. All my life I've been moved by his music, and I'm 52. My father told me I was trying to whistle If I Love Again when I was 3. Sometimes Shaw's intensity brings tears to my eyes. He absolutely owned the clarinet. He was the very best musician who ever lived.

[cyberpolice9000]

Artie Shaw = best big band leader

[Darwinknowsbetter]

0:59 any one noticed the cleaner on the back ground wiping the flour?

[BrewskLitovsk]

@Darwinknowsbetter -- Yep, have noticed that. There is another one, dusting the stairs. Ridiculous, and racist, isn't it? This is only the abridged version of "Concert For Clarinet". The original was on two sides of an 78-rpm shellack, and it's over 6 minutes. -- Anyway, wonderful playing by Artie and the band. -- It's Billy Butterfield on trumpet, Johnny Guarnieri on piano and Nick Fatool on drums. The film itself is quite silly, but the music is great. Thanks for the good video quality.

[valdir8417]

Inesquecível, simplesmente inesquecível. a música de Artie Shaw é eterna...parabéns a ele onde estiver

[laela70]

bel glissando col clarinetto muller

[davewhitesax]

This for me says why I prefer Artie Shaw to Benny Goodman! Charisma, looks, perfect clarinet technique and musicality - he had it all!

[davewhitesax]

This for me says why I prefer Artie Shaw to Benny Goodman! Charisma, looks, perfect clarinet technique and musicality - he had it all!

[fireplusjazz]

I would have loved to hear Artie Shaw in person. To bad I was born in the wrong era.

[LOTRzagorath]

Wow this is amazing. Does anyone know where I can get a score of it?

[esproarteforever]

The last gliss. was amazing....

[buoybuhund]

I was the guy mopping the floor.

[TankDunnGamer]

@buoybuhund u must be really old

[buoybuhund]

@buoybuhund Actually, I'm 13. -- Benjamin Button

[Padabig60]

I use two mouthpieces, Kaspar 123 (from the original Frank L), and a violently customized Mitch Lurie (87 tip). I like softer reeds for more flexibility, more nuance, inspired by the Turkish guys, as well as many jazz artists ( 2.5 for the Kaspar. 1 for the Lurie) after 40 years of playing, I have never had a better set-up. Artie is a better stick man than goodman any day. he had the jazz feel.

[FatManDoubleZero]

@Padabig60 I agree 100 percent. Artie was the better "swing" artist compared to Bennie Goodman. At his prime, Artie Shaw was peerless. I have an ongoing dispute at another blog about Dick Johnson's "sound" on clarinet compared to Artie Shaw. I claim Dick Johnson couldnt play on the same planet with Artie Shaw. I heard Johnson play this same Concerto for Clarinet, in person. Johnson sucked the big one. Yet, Artie Shaw said Johnson was the best he ever heard. Artie lost all his marbles when old.

[heybuddyheybuddy]

i love how he just walks around :)

[cleosimble]

what notes are those for trombone

[talbotvanman]

@ESC8781 Doubt if you will ever get agreement on reed/mouthpiece

combination. My choice is Rico 2 1/2 with Selmer Goldentone.

Your own mouth/teeth configuration will determine your best choice.

Keep experimenting (if you can afford the expense!)

[ESC8781]

@talbotvanman thanks

[bob1sded]

squidward made 7 accounts....

[MemphisCharm]

Great gracious gravy, that last note was AWESOME! If I try to get any higher then a high C it sounds like garbage. I bow to this man. Job well done.

[ESC8781]

@MemphisCharm mines too lol

[MemphisCharm]

@ESC8781 It would also help if I actually knew the fingerings that went along with the notes. =D

[ESC8781]

@MemphisCharm Are vodoren reeds better than ricos I think rico sucks.

[MemphisCharm]

@ESC8781 I use Rico and I think they work pretty well. I've never tried Vodoren, so I can't really compare the two...

[cleosimble]

@ESC8781 YES!!!!

[ESC8781]

@cleosimble Um what?

[ESPguitarist1969]

Well he's no Squidward.

[MrCincy78]

6 people are deaf

[trovajavierperez]

sin duda el mejor de todos

[Duxinflite]

Timeless. He could sit in with Pink Floyd or Allison Krauss.

[Jab00zi]

I'm team guy in the background sweeping at 0:59! Yeaaaa!

[lauraandcalin]

I've just listed some Artie Shaw and other swing clarinet sheet music on Etsy.

etsy.com/shop/lauraslastditch?­section_id=7952918

[officialstanciubebe]

fantastic benny goodman the best clarinet magic 

[GregoMorgan]

Is that Fred Astaire at 1:55 ?

[GregoMorgan]

Cleaning guys on the background are part of the show

[OldDogNewTrick]

The music of my life - recorded the year I was born!

[ThatsMrMoronToYou]

Slim Whitman using his right hand at :37.

[ThatsMrMoronToYou]

Michael(Apollo)Forest on the drums at 1:16.

[GreyHoodProductions]

0:60 i didnt know william h macy was a trombone player ?

[potatoyumyum89]

why is he holding the clarinet so straight up?

[ReconciIed]

I'm no clarinet player, but this is phenomenal. Brass player showing one of the greatest clarinetists of the 20th century some love.

[Mackermilk]

Astonishing performance. But this clip burns a tantalizing question into my head. I just can't find sleep pondering about who is this cleaning woman in the background. Artie's sixth wife?

[wanawara111]

Гений кларнета. Гений аранжировки. АРТИ - тВеликий музыкант.

[spaik007]

he makes clarinet look hetero

[RedMist85]

I'd be the happiest person ever if I lived in the 40's.

[ClarinetChick18]

clarinets rule!

'

[jlvyn13]

That high C was so in tune in the end.... holy crap. He was truly amazing and does it with ease.

[yontartu1]

he makes it look so easy! what a legend!

[CharmsJr94]

that is the wierdest embouchure i've ever seen lol

[Macy64CP]

I also play Bb clarinet too

[63striker]

who was the drummer?

[ThatsMrMoronToYou]

@63striker It looks like Shakespearean and television actor Michael Forest. I remember him from the Star Trek episode "Who Mourns for Adonis?".

[jjezttt]

6 years ago today he died. we will miss him.

[jjezttt]

theres a guy behind the windows cleaning @1:07 haha

[willwoodhouse]

oh and if you don't beleive me go to bbc news and then copy this after the .uk /uk/news/uk-11715188

[AteamMedia]

@willwoodhouse

your article has 404'd

[willwoodhouse]

@AteamMedia oops leave out the first /uk

[willwoodhouse]

My friend from school (Jake Hinson) now has this very clarienet (well one of Artie's from this era) and recently we went to New York and played this with him as a solo on the clarinet :)

[Unistrutter]

I wish I could play like that.

[FlinckJanne1981]

this might be stupid guestion, but what diference there is between clarinet and soprano sax?.

[Mrdudelg]

@FlinckJanne1981 The clarinet has a has an approximately cylindrical bore, is made out of wood, uses a slightly larger reed, larger mouthpiece, and uses a different fingering system than the sax. The soprano sax has a conical bore, and is made out of brass, which makes it sound different. Also, the clarinet overblows at the 12th, not the octave like the saxophone.

[piwithatsme]

@Mrdudelg The material doesn't matter at all it's just the bore that's the difference

[piwithatsme]

@Mrdudelg it's not the material that makes it sound different but the bore of the instrument

[skyredted]

@FlinckJanne1981 soprano sax has a slightly deeper sound on all notes

[skyredted]

@skyredted also its a transposing instrument pitched in the key of B

[NickMedobich]

@skyredted You mean Bb

[croscrane]

stinks on ice - cheesy arrangement

[chriszwolle]

he is really good

i play clarinet myself for 12 years now and i'm playing also in a big band.

now we gonna play this song and i have to play the solo.

his reach isn't that hard like everybody says but it is something to think about.

whatever, ARTIE RULES

[inthemood2jazz]

I just started hitting high C's last week, but Artie sure still kicks my butt all the way across town! What a wonderful player and a great video.

[girlygirls95]

Bahahahah 1:46-1:50 is sooo funny. and clarinets rule

[recubejim1]

Who cares. Just listen ....

[Abriggs500]

Benny Goodman vs Artie Shaw vs Pete Fountain. Who wins??

[Lebowski53]

@Abriggs500

Artie Shaw. Technical knockout.

[BigGuyBoleslaw]

@Abriggs500

Artie Shaw always wins. The YouTube comments on these Artie Shaw videos are filled with admiration from first chair clarinetists in symphony orchestras worldwide who say again and again, in many, many words: WOW.

[klarinet87]

he's a genius...

[cassieboylover]

BEAST!

[mnpd007]

How does he play the thing 90-degrees to his mouth? I don't play clarinet, but was always told that unlike saxes and trombones, you had to keep the clarinet pulled down about half-way to vertical.

[cassieboylover]

@mnpd007 this is jazz though. Most jazz clarinet players play with their horn angled like that. It's to help acquire that jazzy tone.

[ThatsMrMoronToYou]

I did not know William H Macy played the trombone!

[alohapanda101]

thumbs up for clarinets :D

[Klaaaan1]

It doesn't seem possible he would have been a hundred year's old now. I remember in the early 50s he was still going strong.

[abdulsalamnaushad]

Hi, This is Lovely Playing, Also Watch Ustad Abdul salam Naushad, he is Indian Classical Clarinet Player. He is Amazing too.

[RyanSCRCSonic]

That guys practacly my role model

[crackthecorn]

his got moxy

[thewelford]

What chops !

[cyclopsnettezoe21]

sends chills everytime i hear it......

[decus69]

aint nuffin but da blues

[veezbokumar]

anyone have the sheet music to this?

[ThatsMrMoronToYou]

William H Macy at :43.

[MrBhadradri]

He makes playing the clarinet look extremely sexy

[rickydickydobee]

Jazz washes away the dust of everyday life/above all it swings (Art Blakey).

[youralizard]

im playing this peice :) its soo much fun!!!!

[Boonz5583]

I love these old 1940's 1950's Jazz recordings of old Artie Shaw!!!

[gyrgrls]

Good Rockin' Rhythm.

reminiscent of 'Jungle Drums", 'Copenhagen', et al.

5 *****

[spernerslemma]

His playing in the upper register is fluid. I particularly like the run at 1:48! What a master!

[sgn22]

wow i cant hit the end note yet...

[andifyouhadtwocoats]

artie was a poor loser just listen

[kitsap06]

Class, nothing but pure class, nothing like it today.

[itzehak007]

I like Artie's trousers

[Rezninja1]

Love his Moonglow song

[gaylealstrom]

This is a film clip. I think the people sweeping up was to show that this was only a rehearsal.

[congoredjr]

ooh yeah.. good ole Artie Shaw..

[JesusChrysostomo]

Excellent ! Dansant !

[lalyshams]

He was a master!!

[lalyshams]

GEORGIUS

[huntudown4]

Man, he practically jumps rope with the break.

[TVMAN1112]

@huntudown4 well said.

[TheRichardMusic]

no dude he´s the best..........

[huntudown4]

@TheRichardMusic No, I'm the best! Na, jk, but seriously last summer during marching band, our director had a hard time to pick who should get this 4 measure solo, I am currently in 8 grade, she was a senior! At our school musicions usually start in 6th grade. Don't mean to brag, but...

[ColoredPig]

That last note sounds unreal!

He's amazing!

[clarygirrrl9]

Oh Yeah! That high C is awesome. This is from the days when the CLARINET was the coolest instrument and saxophones played back-up. Huh!

[teverde101]

yep, just before the upgrade!

[Poptart0i0Like]

@clarygirrrl9 Clarinet is still the coolest.

[greenerroee]

@clarygirrrl9 trumpets always was the coolest instrument and was always the center of the band

[mikeywaystruelove]

@clarygirrrl9 hahaha

this comment made me smile :D

[cassieboylover]

@clarygirrrl9 does anyone know how to finger that C? I really wanna know how to play it and I know I could get that high if I knew the fingering lol

[gabeox12]

@cassieboylover first finger then first finger on the other hand a small pinky on the eb key. it's VERY EASY TO REACH i'm in 8th grade and i can do it.

[MrIkeProductions]

@gabeox12 An octave higher than that high C and also you don't put your pinky down on until you get to high D

[MrIkeProductions]

@gabeox12 An octave higher then that high C which would be a little harder to get out/ in tune and you wouldn't put your pinky down on that high C, you don't put it done until you get to high D

[Tombstonage]

@cassieboylover

Octave key. Ab/G# key. Right hand C# key. E fingering on left hand. Bb fingering on right hand.

[sAsUsAkU6000]

dang this looks old..wasnt it made in the 60's..?late maybe.....hey i just notices tht sounds like my clarinet :p lol

[mmilovan]

Anyone noticed that Shaw's playing on this clip and issued record is different, so this Concert is jazz improvisation rather than written music as it is always played today.

[sherwinjtb]

you'd think concerto was for just the classical stuff, but goes quite well with jazz too

[chaoscontrol99]

A Concerto is always a Soloist acompanied by a band (Big, Jazz, Classical, or otherwise), I thik that's what a concerto is, anyway. It's been a while since the last time we went over it in Musis Theory. But yes, Jazz is one of the styles it goes better with.

[TheFra091]

grande brv in questo stile di musica

[Guardian016]

Why is there a person sweeping the floor?

[Pal6572]

There was debris on the floor.

[GMBogart]

Louis Armstrong's comment on Bix ("Ain't none of them play like him yet") applies to Artie.

[KonkmanEd]

its the octave glissando that is so hard to do.. and getting the top C really clear at the end after playing for like 5 minutes!!!

[BunnyHunter2]

Steven Walker did a nice version of this during concert. It is worth a search, can not post the link here it seems

[ManOfMeans]

Damn! Go Artie!

My chops are hurtin' just from listening to him

[johnythanj]

I almost can play this its really hard though.

[CptGatsby]

I used to be able to play up to the D above high D (the note Benny Goodman hits at the end of his Carnegie Hall "Sing, Sing, Sing" solo), but I haven't done that since high school so I can't hit it anymore, ha ha. We just did this piece with our wind band, but nobody's version will ever be as good as hearing Artie Shaw do it. He's the only player I've ever heard who always makes the upper register sound gorgeous.

[IGotDoubleBs]

Yeah it's high C above high C lol.. i can play it, but it doesn't sound nearly as pretty as his ahahah.

There're plenty of higher notes on clarinet though, like others have stated. yeep!

[narutardednerd]

What was that last note?? It was super high and he still managed to keep good tone. I bet my non-clarinet playing friends would stop hating on clarinets if they heard this.

[theman9126]

it was triple c.....yepp clarinets can go higher than flutes =)

[narutardednerd]

Isn't that the highest note on clarinet? I can never go higher than G and even that is really hard.

[theman9126]

in theory, clarinets dont have a highest note; just a lowest note (E). the highest known fingerent is i think quadruple or quintiple A flat (and if u overtone that note u hit a D above that) so really, theres no limit! reach for the stars!

[hunter020796]

you mean 1 and 1 G or thumb 123?

[narutardednerd]

I think 1 and 1 if that's the one one octave above thumb 123. I've hit it looking at a fingering chart to see how high I can go. I've been able to hit thumb 123 since the same school year i started playing clarinet. I don't suck that much.

[hunter020796]

Yeah me too. We had a marching band ballad danny boy we hit a high E that was streachin the ol' pipes.

[hunter020796]

Yeah Boiee!

[TaBoExA]

Also known as "super C" and the common fingering is as follows: thumb, octave key, first finger on both hands and the right hand C#/F# fork key. Took me months of practice to get it even knowing the fingering. I still cant run up to it like Artie...

[FaraFright]

Just putting this out there (yes, I do play clarinet): it's a concert Bb7, but flutes can go up to D7; some good players (with about the same amount of skill needed to hit that concert Bb7 on clarinets) can go up to F7, and some flutes have a key letting them reach C8. And no, I am not talking about a piccolo.

But then again, I don't think Bb7 is the clarinet's highest note.

[BSDConstantine]

probably not, but still, we live.

Bass clarinet is fun to jazz with, i like doing it.

[fanjiatia]

A high C.(c7)

[Jordainio]

Hah cool! That ending is some epic stuff.

[HarunConn]

ey,der hat einfach nur die Lakritzstange gespielt,klar?......aber absolute Klasse!!!!!!!!!!

[KiyoKenshin]

Oh. My. God. In the beginning, he played an amazingly smooth glissando. Phenominal.

[GiuseppeMazzini9]

Play like this is a professional and tasty fun!

[pong224]

GOD I LOVE HIS TONE!!!!

[Macy64CP]

my best friend has been playing clrinet for 15 years she sounds as good as that im not even kidding

[Geturownbox101]

awesome

[artfreaksue]

I love playing my clarinet but i could never play that could!

[jaminj23]

he kinda looks like robert deniro from raging bull.

[tintin20001967]

Classy playing.

[kmac08attack12]

i want to play this!!!!

[2agray]

I remember that record. Was a little faster than this version. It was a 2 sided 12 inch 78 during that boogie woogie craze. Wasn't that popular but one of his staples. We just didn't play the 12 inch 78's that much and they weren't on the jukeboxes. That's where we heard most of the latest music and would run down to the record shop to buy them.

[Andyfirthjazz]

I just transcribed the Artie Shaw recording of this (solos and all) for strings and big band and will be performing in it in September here in Australia so it was great to see this clip where Artie just does his own thing! Thanks for posting it-SUPERB!

Cheers!

Andy 8)

[Inkasuluv]

WOOO lol

[jazzreedlady]

Preference? It's all subjective. Personally I think Jimmy Dorsey was fabulous and highly underrated! And for tone production, Eddie takes the cake. There are different approaches to improv. Benny was more melodic. Artie was all about the great licks. And Eddie masters the patterns. Take your pick! How about Pete Fountain? YouTube rocks!

[devaavael]

yeah it does

[TheOverlordDale]

I personally think, for tone production, it's between Ken Peplowski and Eddie. Eddie's got a much smoother sound, but Ken Peplowski's got a dark, projecting, almost classical sound (he plays on a Buffet R13).

But, yes, I do completely agree. YouTube rocks!

[jazzreedlady]

I've had the pleasure of working next to both, and good call! And both were super nice people to work with! Henry Cuesta had a great tone too!

[donho57]

I have to agree about Henry, I think he was very underrated and an incredible clarinetist. He was nice to work with, a great gentleman.

[gaemp]

Gershwin died in 1936...

[dqSOBERqd]

Nice violinists! And who this charming lady, washing a stair?

[Abriggs500]

The pianist kinda looks like George Gershwin.

[bass4girl]

Really fun piece to play. Love 1:24-2:20