Artie Shaw - Where Or When

At the height of his popularity in the late 1930's and early 1940's, Artie Shaw was making $60,000 a week (by comparison the comedy act of George Burns & Gracie Allen was making about $5,000/wk).
Only Benny Goodman would rival Artie as the best jazz clarinetest in the land, and hit after hit and wife after wife would follow him for years. Married 8 times to the likes of Betty Kern (Jerome Kern's daughter), and actresses Ava Gardner and Evelyn Keyes, he was a self-admitted "difficult" man to deal with, and a perfectionist in every sense of the word. In fact, so much so, that his desire to be "perfect" musically led him to retire shortly after this recording of "Where or When" in the early 1950's. He would make a brief comeback 30 years later, but the Artie Shaw most would remember had left his best days far behind.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Artie Shaw
• Where Or When

[Billymaysfan6837]

My eyes have been opened. That was fantastic! I wish i had been a fan of big band earlier! This is way better than (c)rap "music"

[profitleads]

A man who was relentless in his drive for perfection. There were brilliant musicians who were born of that era, but no star ever glowed brighter.

[erniesmallwood1]

Just so nice to listen to

[bwalla50]

Artie Shaw would often take a hiatus from his band and would take higher math courses, among other things. He was also a precision marksman and was the fourth best shot in the US in 1964. He was a great talent but his perfectionism finally make him too difficult, even for himself.

[TCDS75]

Mi esposa María Antonia también aprecia esta música ....... César

[pixywarp90210]

beautiful

[claynadian]

This is my favourite song, and to hear it in this form... Delightful. Makes me feel happy and content.

[MrMkayultra]

My second cousin played in band with Art

[bbaker904]

A absolutly love this piece. So relaxing and right to the heart.

[at78rpm]

Shaw put it best when comparing himself with Goodman. "Benny's eyes were opened when I told him, 'Benny, you don't play, you swing.' Me, I play."

[paulostroff99]

Lovely playing.TY nocaro for posting.

[paulostroff99]

@profitleads -Benny Goodman was right up there on a par with him.