Arvell Shaw

Featured with the Louis Armstrong All-Stars during several periods, Arvell Shaw was arguably Armstrong's finest bassist and the only musician in his band that was influenced to an extent by bebop. Shaw played tuba in high school before switching to bass. He played with Fate Marable on riverboats in 1942, was in the Navy during 1942-45 and then was in Louis Armstrong's final big band (1945-47). Along with drummer Sid Catlett, Shaw was retained after the orchestra broke up and became an original member of the Louis Armstrong AllStars, easily the youngest member at age 24. Although he spent 1950-52 off the road, completing his musical studies, Shaw rejoined Armstrong during 1952-56, traveling the world and appearing on many recordings with Satch until he left in 1956. Shaw worked with Russ Case at CBS, was with the Teddy Wilson Trio, played at the Brussels World Fair with Benny Goodman in 1958, stayed in Europe for a few years and rejoined Goodman for his Latin American tour of 1962. Shaw spent a third period back with Louis Armstrong (1962-64) and rejoined him briefly a few times later in the decade. Otherwise, Arvell Shaw (who has never led his own record date) has been a freelancer in the New York area ever since, playing with a variety of all-star mainstream groups and in the 1980's touring with a show titled "The Wonderful World Of Louis Armstrong."