Although Artie Shaw is perhaps best known for his eerie, moody compositions ("Nightmare," his signature tune, is a case in point), he could also swing as hard as Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller. The Shaw installment of JAZZ MOODS: HOT focuses on the clarinetist/bandleader's up-tempo dance tracks, bringing together 14 cuts from Shaw's RCA/Bluebird years. The opener, "Everything Is Jumpin'," establishes the tone for this set, with the blow-your-top frenetic pace of "Traffic Jam" turning up the heat even further.
Shaw was one of the first to add strings to his big-band ensembles, and a few tracks here showcase his innovation (the finger-popping groove of "Just Kiddin' Around," for example). Shaw's skills as an arranger are also on display, and can be admired on his versions of "What Is This Thing Called Love?" and "Begin the Beguine" (one of his biggest hits), among others. But it is Shaw's clarinet playing that really astonishes, and keeps the heat of this excellent collection at blistering levels throughout.
