Best of George Shearing

George Shearing | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 22, 2000)
• Original Release Date: August 22, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Telarc
• ASIN: B00004WFMD
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #308,410 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Birdfeathers

2. Straighten Up And Fly Right

3. Summer Song

4. Oh, Lady Be Good!

5. Wail

6. Conception

7. How Beautiful Is Night

8. My Favorite Things

9. Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You

10. Bags' Groove

11. Subconscious Lee

12. Peace

13. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Consider this a Whitman's Sampler of mellow, urbane bonbons from the septuagenarian George Shearing of the 1990s. Culled from seven of the pianist's Telarc discs of the decade, it contains a bit of the cocktail bop that made him a pat but popular stylist during previous decades. There are two gauzy tracks with The Robert Farnon Orchestra and a couple of others with a quintet that emphasize the blocked chords and unison lines with guitar and vibes that fans will recognize. A pair of Nat King Cole covers, a Christmas carol, and a solo rendition of Dave Brubeck's "Summer Song" perhaps cater too much to "easy listening." But there's also a wonderfully inventive solo take on the chestnut "My Favorite Things," and, best of all, four agile bop tunes recorded live in 1992 at the Blue Note with drummer Grady Tate and bassist Neil Swainson. It's a kick to hear Shearing negotiate the fleet rhythms of Charlie Parker's "Birdfeathers" and take on the occasionally thorny "Subconscious Lee" (by Lee Konitz, a disciple of another block-chording pianist, Lennie Tristano). Those who long ago dismissed Shearing as a stuffed shirt should note these and other tricks he's got up his sleeve. --Britt Robson

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars HOW BEAUTIFUL THE SOUND!, October 6, 2000

By 

Dorothy Weiss (ORLANDO, FLORIDA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Best of George Shearing (Audio CD)

Mellifluous, melodic tones, full chords and polytonic structure identify this maestro of the piano, George Shearing. How beautiful is the sound of " My Favorite Things", "Straighten Up and Fly Right", "Lady be Good", and "Summer Songs". These standards are presented in a lush smooth fluid exciting style. "Reflections" may have you humming along or just listening and grooving to this remarkable collection.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Tasteful and Straightforward, August 7, 2009

By 

Karl W. Nehring (Ostrander, OH USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Best of George Shearing (Audio CD)

This 70-minute release from Telarc reprises some of Shearing's work for the label that was recorded between 1991 and 1998. Devoted Shearing fans may well have his Telarc recordings already, but those less involved fans will probably enjoy this varied and pleasant anthology. With Shearing, you pretty well know in advance what you are going to hear: tasteful, straightforward playing with a gentle touch. There is no showing off, just plenty of honest music-making that may well have you snapping your fingers or humming along as the music unfolds. For the casual music listener who enjoys the sound of mainstream piano jazz, this well-recorded Telarc CD is almost an automatic recommendation.

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly the Best of George, October 4, 2010

By 

Robert Feller (Millville, NJ) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Best of George Shearing (Audio CD)

From the listening standpoint this recording is wonderful and captures the true essence of the master at the keyboard. His style is unique and the delicate touch on the ivory is captured in this recording. For anyone that enjoys this category of timeless jazz music this is one that needs to be in your collection.