George Shearing/George Shearing Quintet. Classic Album Collection. Golden Stars/IMC Music Ltd, 2008.
This 3-CD box (3 jewelcases in slip cover) was produced in Portugal under European public domain law, and although it does state that the music presented on these CDs was licensed from Intermusic S.A., George Shearing probably won’t see a single cent.
It is the first time that the first two albums included here have been reissued and the remastered sound is more than OK. I sometimes do wonder though what the earlier Shearing material could sound like. Up until today I have mostly heard cheapo remasterings only, and this one is heads above some of the dreck I have had the misfortune of owning. It’s not Mosaic, but for 11 Euro one can’t complain.
The albums included are:
- “An Evening With the George Shearing Quintet” (MGM, 1951), basically “[...] covers a three-year period when Shearing’s group gradually became one of the most popular in the country. Among the high-points of the enjoyable set are ‘Mambo Inn,’ ‘The Continental,’ ‘Jumpin’ with Symphony Sid,’ ‘Roses of Picardy’ and ‘I’ll Remember April.’” (AMG).
- “I Hear Music” (Metro, 1952) is an early-’50s and more consistently uptempo date with guitarist Chuck Wayne.
- “The Shearing Spell” (Capitol, 1955), the Shearing Quintet’s first recording for Capitol, features George Shearing (piano), Johnny Rae (vibraphone), Toots Thielemans (guitar), Al McKibbon (bass), Bill Clark (drums) as well as Armando Peraza and Willie Bobo (percussion) on some tracks.
- “Black Satin” (Capitol, 1956) is perhaps one of Shearing’s best-known recordings. I have never been the biggest fan of it, with its heavily-orchestrated tracks, but it does have its charm. Billy May’s string arrangements are perfectly-suited to embellish the “Shearing sound” and it is not surprising that this recording became and has remained so popular.
CD 01
From: “An Evening with the George Shearing Quintet”
01) Mambo Inn / 3:09
02) The Breeze and I / 3:31
03) To a Wild Rose / 3:42
04) The Continental (You Kiss While You’re Dancing) / 4:09
05) In A Chinese Garden / Part 1 3:00
06) In A Chinese Garden / Part 2 3:25
07) Jumpin’ with Symphony Sid / 2:41
08) Roses of Picardy / 2:56
09) Body and Soul / 2:34
10) Swedish Pastry / 2:38
11) Little White Lies / 2:56
12) I’ll Remember April / 2:48
From: “I Hear Music”
13) I Hear Music 2:45
14) Over the Rainbow 2:25
15) Easy Livin’ 3:03
CD 02
01) I Don’t Stand a Ghost of a Chance with You – 2:41
02) Pick Yourself Up – 2:54
03) Bop, Look and Listen – 2:57
04) Wait Til You See Her – 2:34
05) Lonely Moments – 3:20
06) So This Is Cuba? – 2:40
07) How High the Moon – 2:47
08) How’s Trix? – 3:16
09) Night Flight – 2:49
From: The Shearing Spell”
10) Autumn in New York – 5:06
11) Strange – 2:53
12) Yesterdays – 3:13
13) Out of This World – 3:20
14) Goodnight, My Love – 3:11
CD 03
01) Moonray – 5:09
02) Cuban Fantasy – 2:28
03) Midnight in the Air – 2:28
04) The Man I Love – 4:10
From: “Black Satin” (George Shearing Quintet and Orchestra)
05) The Folks Who Live on the Hill – 4:32
06) If I Should Lose You – 2:40
07) Starlight Souvenirs – 3:28
08) What Is There to Say – 2:45
09) Black Satin – 2:37
10) You Don’t Know What Love Is – 2:57
11) Nothing Ever Changes My Love for You – 4:37
12) One Morning in May – 2:33
13) Moon Song – 2:40
14) As Long As I Live; Let’s Live Again – 3:56
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