THE GREAT SHEARING SOUND!
Giovanni | Chicago, IL | 10/30/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Captured here are two of George Shearing's greatest easy listening masterpieces. This is not party music; it's dinner music. This is not sad and drawn out music, it's very good music. Shearing was one of the premire musicians of our times and his sparse piano playing became trademark and endeared him to the masses. (His album with Nat King Cole, while a bit on the avant-garde side, is not to be missed) Here Shearing's sound is not quite so sparse; he is supported by lush strings and on, some sides, percussion and woodwinds to really make his mark. The high-drama and pathos of WHAT KIND OF FOOL AM I and the brave front of WHO CAN I TURN TO, both masterpieces penned by Shearing's fellow countrymen from the UK, Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley, really stand out here. The somewhat swinging ALMOST THERE and DEAR HEART, nipped from the Andy Williams Songbook, if you will, are treated well here also. Another hit from the Mancini songbook, DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES, is fantastic, the tempo slightly swing, slightlty latinate. The NEW LOOK sides are a little more "supper-club" like; the bongos and woodwinds on the Beatles' classic YESTERDAY fit surprisingly well and George never intrudes on the melodies with his playing; the arrangements are perfectly shaped to his interpretations.
(Hats off to Julian Lee, credited for these charts on the NEW LOOK sides) Frank Sinatra's ode to the swinger, STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT, is also handled very well, with its latin beat and strings. For Shearing fans, this "two-fer" is a welcome addition, for good music fans, ditto."
A golden nugget shining brightly!
Matthew G. Sherwin | last seen screaming at Amazon customer service | 09/25/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This "two-fer" CD offers up two of George Shearing's LP record albums on a single CD; and the result is electric! The musical arrangements are every bit as lush and sensitive as anyone will tell you they are; and that infamous piano accompaniment is the best you'll ever get!
I agree with the reviewer who writes that "this is very good music." Indeed, that's practically an understatement. There are many tracks on this CD that have entertained me countless times. I especially like "Call Me Irresponsible;" "The Days Of Wine And Roses;" "The Girl From Ipanema;" "On A Clear Day You Can See Forever;" "The Shadow Of Your Smile" and "Once In A Lifetime." The CD ends strong with "Once In A Lifetime" with the musical flourish at the very end of the track; it leaves the listener wanting MORE!!!
The quality of the remastering is excellent. The liner notes also provide us with reproductions of the album covers--both front and back. Song credits are given but we do not get the years the record albums were originally released.
Overall, this is SOME CD! It is great music to relax with or have playing in the background while you entertain dinner guests. I think you'll also enjoy it as you sip a glass of your favorite wine after a long hard day. If you like this CD you'll definitely appreciate other CDs of Shearing's artistry; and I highly recommend this for fans of quality "mood music" and people who just can't get enough of those infamous Shearing sweet-sounding musical arrangements!
"
How do you top this?
Lloyd SoCal | California | 11/23/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Reviews of 10/10/02 and 9/24/06 don't leave much room to say anything, and that really says it all. My absolute favorite of the 2 Albums is #15 from New Look: Too Good To Be True. I remember Shearing for the Quintet sound, but some (not all) of the jazzy, perkier numbers (including some Mancini in Here & Now) are top notch. With so much to like, Here & Now's emphasis on the Quintet, and then moving through the New Look Album that showcases the breadth of Shearing's full Orchestrations is a joy. The CD does, indeed, build all the way and end on a strong note: most like the Piano Concerto. Amazon makes it easy to listen before you buy. If you listen, I think you will buy this one."
Track Listings (22) - Disc #1