Artie Shaw wasn’t just a clarinetist; he was a restless innovator. His technical genius and complex, string-laden arrangements set him apart. But it was his rebellious spirit that made him a legend. So who do you listen to next?
Benny Goodman: The Other King
You can't talk about Shaw
without mentioning his greatest rival, Benny Goodman. While Shaw was the 'King of the Clarinet', Goodman was the 'King of Swing'. Listening to Goodman is like getting the other side of the story. His style was often hotter and more rhythmically direct, where Shaw’s could be more lyrical and fluid. Goodman’s small groups, featuring Black and white musicians playing together, were revolutionary. Exploring Goodman’s catalog, from the explosive energy of his big band to the intricate dialogues in his trio and quartet, provides essential context for Shaw’s own achievements and their legendary creative duel.
Woody Herman: The Evolving Herdsman
Like Shaw and Goodman, Woody Herman was another powerhouse clarinetist who led a series of legendary big bands. What makes Herman a fascinating listen for a Shaw fan is his relentless evolution. His bands, known as 'The Herds', were constantly changing and embracing modern sounds. While Shaw famously walked away, Herman kept pushing forward, incorporating bebop influences and commissioning ambitious works, like Igor Stravinsky's 'Ebony Concerto'. If you appreciate Shaw's forward-thinking arrangements, you'll find a kindred spirit in Herman's commitment to keeping the big band format fresh and artistically relevant for decades.
Buddy DeFranco: The Bebop Pioneer
As swing's popularity waned, the clarinet was largely left behind in favor of the saxophone in the new, complex world of bebop. Buddy DeFranco was the exception. He possessed a technical mastery that some said was matched only by Shaw, but he applied it to the fast, harmonically advanced language of Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. DeFranco single-handedly carried the clarinet into the modern jazz era. For a Shaw fan who admires pure instrumental virtuosity, DeFranco’s work is a revelation, showing what might have happened had Shaw fully embraced the bebop revolution himself.
Ken Peplowski: The Modern Traditionalist
If you wish you could have seen a swing-era master live, Ken Peplowski is the next best thing. A contemporary giant of the clarinet, Peplowski is a direct descendant of the Goodman and Shaw traditions, and even played in Goodman's last band. He plays with a deep respect for the swing style, but his sound isn't a museum piece; it's vibrant, personal, and endlessly inventive. Peplowski is a master interpreter of the Great American Songbook, able to swing with incredible force or deliver a ballad with breathtaking tenderness, carrying the torch of classic jazz clarinet with soul and impeccable taste.
Anat Cohen: The Global Innovator
Anat Cohen embodies the restless, boundary-pushing spirit of Artie Shaw in a 21st-century context. The Israeli-born, New York-based clarinetist possesses a warm, vocal tone and stunning technical command, but her influences are global. She masterfully blends classic American jazz with the rhythms of Brazilian choro, klezmer, and other world music traditions. Like Shaw, who experimented by adding string sections to his big band, Cohen is constantly seeking new sounds and textures for her instrument. Her music is a testament to the idea that a legacy isn't just about preservation, but about using the past as a launching pad for thrilling new discoveries.
