Customer Reviews

The Shearing Spell/Velvet Carpet

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

 

 

I completely disagree with the other review of this CD. This CD, in my mind, is a must for you bachelor pad / retro cocktail party. I have well over 1,200 albums from this genre, and this one fits in nicely. If you are looking for a "pure jazz" CD from Shearing, don't buy this one. However, if you are looking for background music for your next cocktail party...ice-up the martini glasses, polish your shaker, and throw this one on the turntable (CD player). By the way...don't other reviewers know that you can listen to sound samples before you buy a CD?!?!

Superb set by this master musician who is not given enough credit for his superb arranging skills, particularly for strings in the modern jazz idiom. Although the music can serve as classic 'cocktail party' mood music, if you stop and really listen to it and its equally magnificent sister set, 'Black & White Satin,' you will understand why its no coincidence that this is the same man who penned the theme song for the original jazz club named after Charlie Parker, 'Lullaby of Birdland.' His writing, along with that of Henry Mancini, to name another, did as much as anyone to saturate the mainstream in the 1950's and 1960's with the ideas and innovations of the Parker-Gillespie modern jazz movement. Bravo! George

The Shearing Spell has proven to be a masterpiece of musical excellence. I have given many CDs to people in all kinds of life situations and they have all made a special effort to call or write with exuberant thanks for giving them "that magnificant music." Some have thereafter obtained other of his albums. "Moonray" and "Autumn in New York" were cited most often as favorates but satisfaction was spoken of the entire work. So, for all who received it---people needing emotional uplift, relaxtion, romantic background, new music to appreciate--- I have observed it to be a real winner, a masterpiece, in that it seemed to address the casual as well as the deeper needs of people that music apparently can address.

This one isn't worth the price. In fact it isn't worth having.
I sent my copy back.

The sound is dismal, the arrangements don't do Shearing justice.
It's a disaster.