Archie Shepp Discovers Jazz
ARCHIE SHEPP DISCOVERS JAZZ [:60]
RUFFIN: NOW A JAZZ MOMENT
ARCHIE SHEPP STARTED TAKING PIANO LESSONS AT THE AGE OF 12, BUT THE FUTURE HORN BLOWER—AND NEA JAZZ MASTER—KNEW STRAIGHT- AWAY CLASSICAL MUSIC WASN’T HIS THING.
Begin the Beguine very low
SHEPP: My music teacher, Ms. Rambo, had a hard time getting me to practice my piano because I was totally taken with the music that my father played for me on the radio.
Begin the Beguine up and under
SHEPP: He liked Duke Ellington and Count Basie. He listened to Artie Shaw and Benny Goodman. He listened to everybody. By the age of 13, I knew I wanted to play this music, but I suppose I was more into boogie-woogie than anything.
Back Bay Shuffle up, under
SHEPP: Jazz was really the thing.
THIS JAZZ MOMENT WITH SAXOPHONIST ARCHIE SHEPP WAS PRODUCED BY THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS.
Excerpt of “Begin the Beguine” composed by Cole Porter and performed by Artie Shaw, used by permission of Warner Chappell Music, Inc. [ASCAP] and “Back Bay Shuffle” composed by Teddy McRae and Artie Shaw, used by permission of Music Sales Corp and RYTOVC Inc. [ASCAP]. Both songs from the album, The Essential Artie Shaw, used courtesy of Sony Masterworks.
