1965 · Album
In the Beginning
Recorded 1965 · Label (original release): Muse · Released: 1983
Seeking the Contract: Shaw's Demo Quest
These 1965 demo tapes show Shaw hungry, sharp, and already possessed of a distinctive voice.
In the Beginning arrives as a historical artifact of ambition — Woody Shaw's demo recordings from 1965, made when he was still pursuing his first real shot at a major label. It sits early in his career, before his Blue Note recordings and his years as a bandleader, which means this album is closer to desperation than mastery. Shaw was out there trying to prove himself, and that hunger matters. The session captures him alongside Joe Henderson on tenor saxophone, with Herbie Hancock and Larry Young both contributing piano, plus Ron Carter on bass and Joe Chambers on drums. These are strong players, and they play it straight — no ego, no extended soloing, just solid postbop craft in service of Shaw's trumpet.
The demos never landed Shaw his Blue Note deal at the time, which says something about timing and luck in the music business, not the quality of the playing. The music itself is clean and professional, Shaw's tone already focused and direct. There's no early-career wobbling here, no searching for a sound. What you hear instead is a young musician with a clear voice trying to get someone to pay attention. The arrangements are modest but purposeful, and the ensemble listens to each other without fussiness.
It took until 1983 for these tapes to see release on the Muse label, by which point Shaw's career had moved well past this moment. If you're coming to Shaw for the first time, you're better off starting with his peak Blue Note period. But if you want to know who Shaw was before the world knew, and what he sounded like when nobody was watching, this is the place.
Who's playing
Ron Carterdouble bass
Paul Chambersdouble bass
Larry Youngpiano
Herbie Hancockpiano
Joe Hendersontenor saxophone
Woody Shawtrumpet
Joe Chambersdrums
Where next?
More by Woody Shaw
All 36 albums →
The musicians on this record
My Point of View 1963
Herbie Hancock
plays piano here
plays piano here
Page One 1963
Joe Henderson
plays tenor saxophone here
plays tenor saxophone here
Unity 1965
Larry Young
plays piano here
plays piano here
Dear Miles, 1962
Ron Carter
plays double bass here
plays double bass here
