Keyboard

Yamaha CP-70B Electric Grand - ARTIE SHAW

United States

Circa 1970s-80s

Height: 37 in; Width: 51 in; Depth: 41 in
This 73 Key Yamaha CP 70 Electric Grand Piano was owned and played by American Legendary Jazz Clarinetist, Composer, and Band Leader Artie Shaw. Born Arthur Jacob Arshawsky in New York City (May 23, 1910 – December 30, 2004), Shaw grew up in New Haven, Connecticut. Shaw was an innovator in jazz, he fussed jazz with classical music by adding strings to his arrangements, experimented with bebop, and formed "chamber jazz" groups that utilized such novel sounds as harpsichords or Afro-Cuban music. In the late 1940's, Shaw performed classical music at Carnegie Hall and with the New York Philharmonic under Leonard Bernstein, then in 1981, he organized a new Artie Shaw Band. In 1985, Canadian filmmaker Brigitte Berman created the Academy Award-winning documentary, Artie Shaw: Time Is All You've Got, featuring her interviews with Shaw, Buddy Rich, Mel Tormé, Helen Forrest and others.

The Yamaha CP 70 was first introduced to the market in the mid 70’s and production was ceased in the mid-80’s. It included several improved features such as balanced outputs (hence the B added to CP70) and included an improved preamp. The CP70B is called an electric grand piano, even though it has hammers and strings, because it has a sophisticated piezo type pick-up system that translates the vibrating strings into an audio signal. This was great for touring because of the hassle involved with miking regular heavy, large pianos. You can still hear the piano play acoustically with no power on, but it isn't as loud as a regular baby grand piano. The CP70 was originally sold at a $4000 list price in the mid-70's which translates to around $12,000 to $13,000 in 2002 US dollars. The CP70 was the standard touring piano in the 70's and 80's. It was used by just about every artist and group at one time or another in the studio or on the road. Some of those artists included: John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin, Stevie Wonder, ELO, Genesis, Boston, Hall and Oates, Journey, etc. In the 80's, bands such as Asia, U2, British pop (Howard Jones), and others such as Simple Minds used the CP70. The musical style really didn't matter.

Owner:
Catalog#: HWMC

Info credits to: Mike Braithwaite - http://www.cathedralstone.net/Pages/YamahaCP70B.htm and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artie_Shaw

© Hartenberger World Music Collection