Arthur Arshawsky (23 May 1910 – 30 December 2004), better known as Artie Sh… Read Full Bio ↴Arthur Arshawsky (23 May 1910 – 30 December 2004), better known as Artie Shaw, was an accomplished jazz alto saxophonist, clarinetist, composer, arranger, bandleader, and author.
He was born in New York City (but grew up in New Haven, Connecticut) and began learning the saxophone when he was 15 and by age 16, had begun to tour with a band. He reached Hollywood the first time, as a sideman with Irving Aaronson's band in 1931, performing at the famous Orange Blossom Room (site of the first Academy Awards ceremony in 1929). Returning to New York City in1932, he became a highly in-demand session musician, working for example as one of just a handful of accompanists to Bing Crosby's first signature radio show for William S. Paley's already powerful and influential CBS radio network. Ultimately, Artie (who was known strictly as "Art" Shaw until his fortuitous Summer, 1938 contract with RCA Victor records' Bluebird label commenced) organized and led five, full-time touring orchestras that were all extremely popular -save the last, from 1949, with its be-bop oriented book. Ironically, that final Shaw-led big band (populated with players like Al Cohn), is considered by most jazz critics to have been Artie's best. With time out to lead a Navy service band (in the Pacific combat theater) during WWII, Shaw's actual big band- leading career lasted less than a decade overall -yet, it was a remarkably productive one, populated with some fourteen "Gold" records. These included such mega-hits as "Begin the Beguine", "Stardust", "Frenesi", "Moonglow", "Temptation", "Dancing In The Dark" and "Summit Ridge Drive" -the latter by his famous quintet billed as the Gramercy 5.

Shaw was known for being an innovator in the big band idiom, pioneering strings with jazz and using unusual instrumentations. His Summer, 1935 piece "Interlude in B-flat" was one of the earliest examples of what would be later dubbed "third stream". In 1938 he convinced Billie Holiday to be his band's vocalist, becoming the first white bandleader to hire a full-time black female singer. This 1938-1939 orchestra became phenomenonally successful and appeared in the movie "Dancing Co-ed" which also featured one of his future wives, Lana Turner, in the cast. Artie's clarinet playing, had by now reached a level that was arguably the greatest in jazz, easily rivaling that of Benny Goodman. Longtime Duke Ellington clarinetist Barney Bigard, himself a highly talented musician -cited Shaw (in 1940) as his "favorite" clarinet player. Literally abandoning his famous 1938-1939 band at the absolute peak of its' fame and earning power (Artie, just himself alone pulling down more than $10K per week) in late November, 1939, Shaw "abdicated" to Acapulco, Mexico. Returning to the U.S. he organized an entirely new orchestra, with full string section in the Summer of 1940. A truly stellar aggregation, it lasted until mid-1941, featuring stars Billy Butterfield, Johnny Guarneiri, Nick Fatool and Ray Conniff as principal arranger. This outfit can be prominently seen in the RKO film "Second Chorus" starring Fred Astaire and Paulette Goddard. The final pre-war Shaw band, started in late, 1941, had Davey Tough and Hot Lips Page and big hits on St. James Infirmary Blues and Blues In The NIght. Artie broke this outstanding unit up shortly after Pearl Harbor so he could "enlist" in the Navy -refusing an offered commission. Back from the Navy, Shaw put together a new band that featured Roy Eldridge and an ambitious library stocked with arrangements by Eddie Sauter, Buster Harding, Ray Conniff and others. Hit records for this band included "Little Jazz" and "S'Wonderful" and by now Artie was married to Ava Gardner. His final public performances (as a clarinetist) took place in 1954, including with a sublime quartet in an extended Las Vegas booking. Apparently, he last picked up and played his fabled clarinet in about 1960 at his beach house in Spain (as recounted in final wife actress Evelyn Keyes' autobiography) and resisted all lucrative offers to return to the stage until finally fielding a "ghost" band under the highly capable aegis of outstanding clarinetist Dick Johnson in 1985. For about the first year, Artie often appeared on stage with this very fine orchestra at certain, prestigious bookings, but soon tired of the "grind" -and not to Dick Johnson's dismay. This now true "ghost" band is still appearing during Summer seasons (with much of the original Shaw "books"), principally in the New England area (Johnson lives in Boston) and is well worth seeing. Although he had more wives (8) than bands, Artie fell one wife short of Charlie Barnet's record (for a famous bandleadrer) of nine.

Azure
Artie Shaw Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Driftin' Dreamin'
In an Azure mood,
Stardust gleamin'
Thru my solitude:
Here in my seclusion,
You're a blue illusion
While I'm in this Azure interlude.
I'm not wanted I'm so all alone;

Always haunted
By the dreams I own;
But, though Im tormented
I must be contented
Driftin' Dreamin'
In an Azure mood!
Driftin' Dreamin'
In an Azure mood,
Star dust gleamin'
Thru my solitude:
Here in my seclusion,

You're a blue illusion
While I'm in this Azure interlude!

Overall Meaning

The song "Azure" by Artie Shaw and his Orchestra is a melancholic tune about a person's loneliness and their serene state of mind. The lyrics delve into the emotional state of the singer, who is slowly drifting away in a dreamy and calm mood while thinking about the person they long for. The singer is in a state of seclusion, and in their solitude, they find peace, but at the same time, they are tormented by the dreams they own.

The word "Azure" in the title and lyrics of the song is used to describe the melancholic and dreamy state of mind experienced by the singer. The color blue is often used to portray sadness, and in this song, it represents the character's mood. The lyrics suggest that even though the person might be alone and haunted by their dreams, they have to be contented with their state of mind.

Overall, the song "Azure" is a hauntingly beautiful piece that captures the essence of sadness and loneliness that many people experience. The lyrics are poignant, and the melody is soothing, making it a timeless classic.

Line by Line Meaning

Driftin' Dreamin'
Lost in thought and imagination

In an Azure mood,
Feeling peaceful and relaxed as if surrounded by a blue sky

Stardust gleamin'
Small glimmers of hope or inspiration

Thru my solitude:
Through my moments of being alone

Here in my seclusion,
In this place of isolation and withdrawal

You're a blue illusion
You are a beautiful and unattainable dream

While I'm in this Azure interlude.
In this brief moment of peace and tranquility

I'm not wanted I'm so all alone;
Feeling unwanted and completely isolated

Always haunted
Continuously tormented and troubled

By the dreams I own;
By the desires and aspirations I possess

But, though I'm tormented
Despite the constant pain and struggle

I must be contented
I must find a way to be happy with what I have

Driftin' Dreamin'
Lost in thought and imagination

In an Azure mood!
Feeling peaceful and relaxed as if surrounded by a blue sky

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Cloud9
Written by: Duke Ellington, Irving Mills

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS