the rix mix

George Shearing, 91
By Peter Keepnews
George Shearing, the British piano virtuoso who overcame blindness to become a worldwide jazz star, and whose composition “Lullaby of Birdland” became an enduring jazz standard, died on Monday in Manhattan. He was 91.
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The Shearing sound — which had the harmonic complexity of bebop but eschewed bebop’s ferocious energy — was built on the unusual instrumentation of vibraphone, guitar, piano, bass and drums. To get the “full block sound” he wanted, he had the vibraphone double what his right hand played and the guitar double the left. That sound came to represent the essence of sophisticated hip for countless listeners worldwide who preferred their jazz on the gentle side.

My friend Peter Keepnews wrote the New York Times obit. Sir George Shearing's (knighted in 2007 although he held American citizenship) greatest popularity was in the '50 & '60s, recording for Capitol. His best recordings were probably the later ones for the jazz label Concord. His  first American quintet, formed in 1949, had a female vibraphonist & African-American drummer. Many of his Capitol recordings, like "Say Si Si," were lifted to another level through Shearing's collaboration with Cuban percussionist Armando Peraza, with the result a kind of Cafe Society jazz with authentic latin rhythms.  He was a musician who wanted to please audiences & himself,  His club performances drew celebrities & fine musicians.  Shearing was a pianist of subtle originality & wonderful wit.

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