[Dixielandjazz] Shaw & Goodman

[Russ Guarino]

Steve,

Because of Shaw, you became a clarinet player.  Can you tell us about it?

Russ Guarino

Steve barbone wrote:

> I think perhaps some folks on the DJML quite misunderstand what Shaw was
> talking about when he said Goodman played Clarinet and he (Shaw) played
> music. No point getting hung up on the semantics of the word "play". No
> point in assuming that Shaw's comments were a cheap shot at Goodman's
> expense, when they were not. Shaw was merely pointing out how he and Goodman
> viewed the clarinet. Perhaps the quote, a short one out of a broader
> context, was an error on my part. The entire two chapters on Shaw should be
> read for a fuller understanding of the man, his music and his psyche. As
> should Shaw's autobiography be read.
>
> Simply stated, some folks view the axe primarily as a communication device.
> E.G. Shaw or Pee Wee Russell. Their musical work speaks with all the emotion
> of a expert communicator.
>
> Other folks do not view the axe as a communication device, but rather as an
> instrument to be conquered or mastered. Their primary goal is to play it
> perfectly. E.G. Goodman, or Eddie Daniels. They play beautifully, but do
> not, to my ears at least, seem to have that emotion of a great communicator.
>
> When listening to Shaw, and then Goodman the differences are apparent. Same
> if one listens to Daniels and then DeFranco. DeFranco communicates with, and
> Daniels masters, the instrument.
>
> Pee Wee Russell? A great communicator. Just ask Kenny Davern who is also one
> of the great communicators on the axe as well as one who has pretty well
> mastered it.
>
> There are listeners who respond to one or the other approach for various
> reasons. You pay your money and you take your choice. Or you appreciate both
> for what they do.
>
> Further examination of Sudhalter's Book will give the reader more insight on
> these approaches to musicianship. Especially Davern's take on Pee Wee
> Russell in the chapter on Pee Wee, and more reading of the two chapters on
> Artie Shaw. (I cite the book so much only because I think many list mates
> have it)
>
> Bottom line? I plead with list mates not to draw large inferences from short
> quotes (Shaw) that were obtained by an interviewer (Sudhalter), but rather
> to seek out the entire context.
>
> Cheers,
> Steve Barbone
>
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