[Dixielandjazz] Artie Shaw recollections

[Richard Broadie]

I spent some time at Artie's Newberry Park CA home about 8 years ago.  That 
was when I was trying to market my mono to stereo invention and Artie was a 
fan of my technology.  Stan Reiker, an outstanding audio engineer, 
http://www.rickermaster.com/ , my driver and I spent about 4 hours listening 
to Artie's opinions as well as his music in a huge room on the second floor 
of his house.   The setting felt more like a library than a house with 
endless shelves filled with books and recordings.

On this day, Artie discussed many things including his opinion of Benny 
Goodman, the world at large, his favorite recordings, and much else.  My 
subsequent meetings and phone calls basically provided me with his 
explanations that lead to the conclusion that he could not use my 
technologies because his producers had already released about 7 of his CDs 
and they didn't want to "change horses in the middle of the stream."

I'll withold the temptation to discuss my preceived conception of what could 
be ascribed as Mr. Shaw's personality flaws inasmuch as I'm sure that there 
will be many others willing to fill that void.  I will say that I was never 
a great fan of his music until I met him and listened to his impressive 
improvisational skills on some of his favorite recordings.  At the 
conclusion of our meeting, I admittedly gained much insight as well as 
respect for him as a musician.  Then again, the whole world apparently knew 
he was a fantastic player before I did.  (I grew up being a Benny Goodman 
fan and was told the myth that Artie read every note he ever played.)

I'm quite tired at the moment so will withold writing more until another 
time when I'm a bit fresher and, perhaps I can include Mr. Reiker's 
recollections in the next email missive to you.

Hope you find this of some interest.

Dick Broadie