Search - George Shearing :: The Best of George Shearing, Vol. 2 (1960-1969)

Great jazz, lush music. Melllow, rich, fabulous!

Tom B | Westport, CT USA | 02/06/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"George Shearing is one of the greats of jazz piano, and here his smooth and elegant style shines beautifully. Shearing has a lean, spare approach to his playing. Instead of pyrotechnics, he uses fluid, flowing chords and riffs to get to the essence of the song. At the same time, he brings out the tune -- he actually does play the melody -- and leaves the song in your heart when the record's over. On this disc there are lush strings on a number of tracks, vibes (Gary Burton and others), flute and various other tasteful accompaniments.



The classics "Lullaby of Birdland" and "Jumpin' With Symphony Sid" swing tunefully; "Blue Moon" has a uptempo feel, with vibes and flute making the track move nicely. "Early Autumn" and "I Wish You Love" have lush, romantic strings filling out Shearing's lively piano. "Blues in 9/4" may have been inspired by contemporary Dave Brubeck's experiments in unusual time signatures, such as "Take 5." Like the Brubeck song, 9/4 has a toe tapping rhythm -- but you're not quite sure when to tap. "Bel Aire" is an uptempo romp with Gary Burton on Vibes and Bill Yancey on bass. There's even a Beatles song, "Michelle," with a lush string arrangement and gently swinging piano. The other songs are all strong; there's not a bad track here.



This is fine jazz, full-bodied music that's also mellow and soothing. A versatile disc, suitable for many situations: listening, dinner, relaxing, parties, etc. George Shearing is a legendary name in jazz, and this collection is a fine place to begin enjoying his music."