December 31, 2004

Artie Shaw Dies at 94. "One of the giants of swing era jazz and a crusty, self-declared perfectionist, Shaw put down the clarinet in 1954 and never played it again, saying he could not reach the level of artistry he desired."

The man could play the clarinet like nobody's business. Give Frenesi a spin on New Year's Eve. Another person I'll be raising a glass to...