Arvell Shaw Archives
New Transcription Book Covers Arvell Shaw’s Lines With Louis Armstrong
If you’re looking to dig into the New Orleans style, you may want to check out Billy Bileca’s new book, “Bass Transcriptions from Louis Armstrong Plays W.C. Handy”. The book contains note-for-note bass lines played by Arvell Shaw.
Old School: John Worster / Arvell Shaw Bohemian Double Bass (Circa 1820)
A couple of weeks ago, Damian Erskine sent me an email filled with excitement. Here’s an excerpt: You know about my trip to pick up my dad’s bass in St Louis, right? Well, Jim Widner (who cared for it for the past 25 years) pointed out a name carved in the front. Faint but clear: “Shaw”. Apparently this was Arvell...
Louis Armstrong, Featuring Arvell Shaw: How High The Moon
Here’s a fantastic video of Louis Armstrong handing the spotlight over to bassist Arvell Shaw for a bass feature on “How High the Moon,” from a 1963 performance in Sydney, Australia. Shaw pulls out all the stops during the nearly 7-minute romp. “Show business,” he says, just before breaking out his bow to play all the way up into the...