[2] His career in performance began in the 1980s working in piano bars in the UK and abroad, both solo and as a duo with composer Andrew Phillips[3] (guitar).

Shaw co-founded the band Brave New World with Adrian York, touring with them and playing at venues that included Hammersmith Odeon and Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club.

Drawn to All Things: The Songs of Joni Mitchell was followed in 2008 by an autobiographical album, Lifejacket, which showcased his songwriting for the first time, in collaboration with the guitarist David Preston.

These were followed by two collaborations with pianist and songwriter Jamie Safir, both on Silent Wish Records: What's New[10] (2020) which also featured saxophonist Iain Ballamy and Greek Street Friday[11] (2023) which consisted of original tracks with biographical lyrics written by Shaw, performed by a full band.

[19] In 2021 he sang in the world premiere of Mark-Anthony Turnage’s Black Milk, written for jazz singer and sixteen players with a text by Paul Celan.

[20][21] The following year he celebrated his birthday with Shaw at 60,[22] a concert at Kings Place with guests including singers Madeline Bell and Elaine Delmar, trumpeter Guy Barker, actor Haydn Gwynne and comedian Julian Clary.

[31] As an actor, Shaw performed in Jerry Springer: The Opera during its run at Battersea Arts Centre in 2002[32] playing Warm-Up Man/Devil, a role which was created for him by Richard Thomas.

In Kurt Elling’s jazz musical The Big Blind, he played the villain Tony Bonilla with performances at Lincoln Center’s Rose Theater (2019)[38] and Queen Elizabeth Hall, London (2020).