Customer Reviews

Christmas With George Shearing Quintet

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This holiday CD showcases Shearing's light touch. These songs definitely put you in a nice, mellow holiday mood. I really enjoyed the first track, " . . . Merrily on High," as well as "Donkey Carol" and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" (which smoothly incorporates Brubeck's famous "Take Five" intro). "Noel Nouvelet" is a serene, but melancholy tune, a la Guaraldi's take on "Greensleeves." If you like holiday music and nice jazz, you'll get both from this LP.

This album is a delight. Especially suitable for background music a Christmas dinner party. It's a nice departure from the tired yule favorites in that Shearing delightfully reintroduces us to the holiday chestnuts but does so with new arrangements and wonderful pairings of instruments. This is a must for your holiday music collection.

First off, if you like Shearing's delicate touch, sense of swing, and tasteful musicality, you'll really enjoy this album as I do. I have two small problems with it that take away the fifth star. Firstly, although it's generally a smooth recording, as with many Telarc jazz productions, it lacks definition in the treble range. For example, the drummer's cymbals are virtually inaudible. Secondly, Mr. Shearing succumbs to the temptation to sing (croak, really) on the last track, which causes the program to end funereally.

My advice would be: Buy a copy. Turn up the treble. Program out the last tune. Enjoy.

Outstanding CD. Love it. One of the best Christmas music CD's I have listened to. The Shearing sound is still unique and especially on this top Christmas CD.
Well worth purchasing.

George and I go way back. . . in my heart/mind, anyway! This is a lovely collection by a master. I will never have too much Shearing music.

This is a beautiful light jazz collection and so great to listen do with a warm beverage on December evenings as Christmas approaches. It's like powdered sugar on a holiday dessert--light and airy and just sweet enough to make a difference.

After being a Shearing fan for such a long time, I did not know he had a Christmas cd. XM was playing an a cut from the cd during their Christmas traditions. I went on-line and ordered. Great music. Sorry I did not purchase sooner. Would buy again.

Those of us who admire Shearing enjoy this unpretentious collection of holiday greats. The 'take five' merry gentlemen is a delight. Take the pressure and commercialism off for just a bit and enjoy some highly musical moments.

One of my favorite jazz Christmas tracks this year has been "Ding Dong Merrily on High" from this album. I haven't been able to listen to it just once without playing it again! I would agree with the previous reviewer in that the album is "not uniformly great," but definitely worth owning. Personally, I prefer Oscar Peterson Christmas to this one.

I particularly enjoyed the Latin rhythms in "Ding Dong Merrily on High", the 5/4 "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" (although I'm very surprised Shearing's liner notes don't acknowledge the debt to Brubeck's "Take Five"), the reflective "Away in a Manger", and the casually swinging "Winter Wonderland". It's just good, solid jazz -- despite the seasonal tunes, it's worth listening to year round.