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Reviewers: Don Mather, Dick Stafford, Marc Bridle, John Eyles, Ian Lace, Colin Clarke, Jack Ashby




Crotchet

The Definitive

GEORGE SHEARING

VERVE 589 857-2

 

 

  1. September in the Rain
  2. East of the Sun
  3. Conception
  4. I’ll Remember April
  5. Tenderly
  6. Geneva’s Move
  7. Pick Yourself Up
  8. I’ll Be Around
  9. You’re Driving Me Crazy
  10. Lullaby of Birdland
  11. Love is Just Around the Corner
  12. Mambo Inn
  13. Memories of You
  14. Senor Blues
  15. Caravan
  16. Jordu
  17. You Came a Long Way from St Louis
  18. Jumpin’ with Symphony Sid
  19. The Nearness of You
  20. What is this Thing Called love?
  21. Over the Rainbow.

The very first LP record I ever bought was a 10-inch vinyl by the George Shearing Quintet, which was in about 1952. I have been an avid Shearing fan ever since and so this record covering George’s career from 1949 to 1963 was very welcome. To me George personifies quality music, there is never anything ugly in his playing and his harmonic sense is extraordinary. Over the years many people have tried to copy the Quintet sound without realising what a daunting task that is. Using the same instrumentation won’t work September In the Rain and all the other quintet classics have an amazing use of timing and harmonics to produce a unique sound, almost impossible to imitate. On this record tracks 1 to 8 are of the original quintet with Marjorie Hyams on vibes, Chuck Wayne on guitar John Levy on bass and Denzil Best on drums. Don Elliot replaces Marjorie Hyams on track 8. Tenderly is the exception, this being an exquisite piano solo from George.

The warm and swinging voice of Billy Eckstine is heard on track 09, which is followed by George’s most famous composition Lullaby of Birdland. It is probably now more famous than the Love Me or Leave Me sequence on which it’s based. Love is Just Around the Corner introduces Cal Tjader on vibes and Toots Tielman on guitar and an extra layer of complexity to the quintet sound. Mambo Inn has George Devens on vibes and brings the first latin jazz to the record.

George plays another amazing piano solo on Memories of You, shades of all sorts of people here, definitely Tatum and probably some Peterson, but the unique Shearing style comes through. There have been many players who may swing harder, but few with the taste and harmonic feel of Shearing. On Senor Blues the latin rhythm is over loud and it spoiled my enjoyment of this particular track. George himself introduces Caravan and Toots Thielman changes from guitar to harmonica, the balance is much better on this track from a concert in 1958 in Claremont, California. Caravan is modal in construction, although the Duke wrote it along time ago, but then he was always ahead of his time. Jordu makes the group sound almost like The Modern Jazz Quartet until the solos start with guitar, which they never used. This is a nice version of the Duke Jordan tune that was a stock number in the library of most jazz combos of the time.

The immediately recognisable voice of Peggy Lee is heard on track 17, Peggy was always very critical of her accompanying group, but I feel sure she was more than satisfied on this occasion. After some fascinating improvisations on the blues with Symphony Sid, the next track has another guest vocalist, this time Nancy Wilson. This is taken from the CD ‘The Swingin’s Mutual’, a record I have not heard, but after this sampler I am looking out for. This track was too short; I could have done with more than one chorus from this combination.

What Is This Thing has George in the trio format that he has often used more recently and he has also recorded with a duo, by 1962 he was able to hold an audience in the palm of his hand without having too many other people involved. The last track however takes us into familiar quintet territory, this time with Gary Burton on vibes, who has gone on to be a leader in contemporary music, although his contribution on this track is not overly significant.

If like me you’re a Shearing fan, then this is for you. If you haven’t listened carefully to his work, buy this you will have a pleasant surprise!

 

Don Mather

 

 

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