| A NEW EDITION OF AN IMPORTANT AMERICAN CLASSIC THE TROUBLE WITH CINDERELLA An Outline of Identity Here is the story of one of the most extraordinary figures in jazz history. A brilliant musician and an exceptional man, Shaw writes with candor and eloquence of his metamorphosis from "a shy, introspective kid named Arthur Arshawsky into a sort of weird, jazz-band-leading, clarinet-tooting, jitterbug-surrounded Symbol of American Youth. "Along the way we meet such other jazz immortals as Willie 'The Lion" Smith, Louis Armstrong, Bix Beiderhecke, and Billie Holiday. Shaw paints a profoundly revealing picture of the music business and the singular milieu of popular entertainment, explaining that "the trouble with Cinderella" is "nobody ever lives happily ever after," and gives the reasons behind his decision to leave that world. This celebrated classic of one man's search for himself, taking us from New York to Hollywood and dozens of places in between, makes fascinating reading for anyone interested in jazz, the world of entertainment, or, indeed, people. "His dissection of the world of hot music ... is as good as anything in print." -The New Yorker "A unique and fascinating work by a superb musician who also happens to be a writer of exceptional talent. As valuable today as when it was first written." -Leonard Feather, Los Angeles Times ARTIE SHAW has put down the clarinet for the pen, it seems. The dance halls may lose by this trade, but the rest of us have benefited." -San Francisco Chronicle Artie Shaw, one of the most innovative and important bandleaders of his era, and considered by many the greatest clarinetist in jazz history, has not played his clarinet in almost forty years. A hand hearing his name still travels around the country playing the songs he made famous, but Shaw himself is, as he puts it, "out of the Artie Shaw business." Being a superstar was never what he set out to do... ISBN-1-56474-020-X |
