Description
In 1949 Artie Shaw, undoubtedly the most intellectual of the big names from the Swing Era, assembled a new band staffed by some of the talent then emerging from the second wave of modern Jazz, saxophonists Al Cohn and Zoot Sims andpianist Dodo Marmarosa amongst them, in order to both explore elements of the new music and to give a fresh slant to his own classic arrangements.
Financially the orchestra was a flop but musically it was an intriguing outfit as can be heardon this Jasmine collection. On some titles, a new Gramercy Five (Shaw's band-within-a band) additionally showcases both the leader's still developing clarinet style and the Be-bop trumpet of the underrated Don Fagerquist.