Artie Shaw

Advantages Fantastic range of great tunes and songs
Disadvantages None

...My late Father would have approved of this CD. For this, he would have said, was real Jazz. "Not like this modern rubbish!" My father's idea of real Jazz was music by the greats of the 1920 and 1930s. Jack Teagarden, for example. Mezz Mezzrow, was another of his heroes. And perhaps some of the early Louis Armstrong. Well, two out of three ain't bad. There's no Mezz Mezzrow on this CD, but there is plenty of Jack Teagarden and some early Louis Armstrong, too. There's also Lester Young and Artie Shaw, too. I have to agree with my dad. This rocks. Well, perhaps not rocks, but I think you know what I mean! Jack Teagarden's jazz is the ultimate in smoooooth jazz. Until he really wanted to become lively, then it was as if you were listening to an entirely different orchestra. The first two Jack Teagarden and his Orchestra tracks (So Many... Read review

Advantages Great musicians Great music
Disadvantages Now just a memory

...Are you able to remember the era of the great Swing Bands ? I guess a few ciao members can. Bands such as the world famous Glenn Miller 40 piece Army - Air Force Band, Tommy Dorsey, Artie Shaw, and Benny Goodman set incredibly high standards of musicianship. During the troubled days of World War II the British military forces also created dance and show bands and arguably the most talented and famous of these bands was The Squadronaires. As their name implies they were members of the Royal Air Force. The Squadronaires were formally known as the No. 1 Dance Band of the Royal Air Force. The musicians in the band came mainly from the Ambrose Orchestra, even the others had been with well-known bands who performed in London's West End. The band was actually formed during the dark days of World War II in 1940 and all the musicians wore... Read review

Advantages Fantastic performances, good script, great direction
Disadvantages It's long and Hughes' motivation isn't always clear

...when you consider that some are historical reproductions of outfits worn by the screen sirens of the time. The score is a rousing affair by Howard Shore, on bombastic form once more. His soundscapes occasionally threaten to overpower the visuals, but he generally manages to reign in his excesses. The soundtrack comprises many standards and popular numbers of the time and it is easy to follow the passage of time through the music playing in the background. Band leaders Artie Shaw and Glenn Miller both make appearances, as does jazz maestro George Gershwin, while pivotal moments in the film are covered by works from Tchaikovsky and Bach. Though varied, the soundtrack never feels out of place, adding to the depth of each scene. The decision to use original mono recordings of many of the tunes adds to the feeling of authenticity. The make... Read review