Charles Bobo Shaw

An outstanding free of charge drummer who was simply also capable and ready to get funky anytime, Charles “Bobo” Shaw’s performing was rhythmically diverse and alternately intense or relaxed, frenetic or stable. Shaw researched drums with Ben Thigpen, and briefly doubled on trombone and bass. He was among the founders from the St. Louis-based Dark Artists Group in the ’60s. Shaw and various other BAG members visited Europe afterwards in the ’60s, and Shaw performed free of charge jazz in Paris to get a season with Anthony Braxton, Steve Lacy, Frank Wright, Alan Silva, and Michel Website. He came back to St. Louis in the ’70s, and documented generally there with Oliver Lake in 1971. He led the Individual Arts Outfit in the middle-’70s, documenting with Lester and Joseph Bowie, Julius Hemphill, Lake, yet others. Shaw proved helpful and did periods with Lester Bowie, Frank Lowe, Hamiett Bluiett, and Lake in the middle-’60s. After touring using the Human being Arts Outfit in Europe through the past due ’70s, Shaw documented with Billy Bang in the middle-’80s. He documented as a innovator for Moers and Dark Saint, amongst others. He passed away at a hospice in St. Louis on January 16, 2017 at age 69.