Best of 1955-1960

George Shearing | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 31, 1995)
• Original Release Date: October 31, 1995
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Blue Note Records
• ASIN: B000005H10
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #65,389 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice work from his early years..., March 25, 2002

By 

William E. Adams (Midland, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Best of 1955-1960 (Audio CD)

Blind British pianist Shearing got his start in recording way back in 1949, first on MGM, then settling in for a decades-long stay and mass popularity with Capitol records. He has played solo, and as a quartet, a quintet, with full orchestras, with great female jazz singers, and with Latin percussionists. He has made his mark with straight versions of the best standards as well as with pure jazz. He's good live (I saw him in 1965) and in the studio as well. This is a fine 18-song collection recorded as a quintet over six years and an amazing 15 separate LP's. Shearing is great as background sound for reading or a party, but he also rewards attentive listening via earphones. He had a zillion albums on vinyl and quite a few have made it to CD now. You really can't get cheated with any of them. What I like best on here are "Have You Met Miss Jones?" and "Dancing on the Ceiling" and "The Folks Who Live on the Hill" and "Cheek to Cheek". He also reprises his first record hit, "September in the Rain" and offers enjoyable versions of "East of the Sun" and "Canadian Sunset". While this kind of stuff is extremely pleasant listening, Shearing reached that goal by using a determined intelligence and great sidemen. If you like "piano jazz" as a category, you already own some George, don't you? If you lack Shearing, this is a worthy introduction.

3.0 out of 5 stars Mostly good stuff, but too many strings tracks, August 12, 2010

By 

Bradley F. Smith (Miami Beach, FL) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Best of 1955-1960 (Audio CD)

Early recordings from the Brit pianist that include quite a few "with strings" tracks that can be a bit syrupy. Even so, you also get some good stuff with Latin percussion that Shearing helped popularize at the time. Not the best sampler, but far from a bust either.

4.0 out of 5 stars A great jazz artist, February 9, 2008

By 

Geraldine C. Cooper "oldies lover" (Owings Mills, MD USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Best of 1955-1960 (Audio CD)

My very first jazz album in the 50's was George Shearing. I still love listening to him.