The Very Best in Bloomington, MN

This "Very Best of
George Shearing
" is actually a best-of from his years with
Capitol
between the years 1955-1962, with one stray track from his brief return to the label
Fool on the Hill
. This release spottily documents
Shearing
at the height of his creativity and sensitivity to standard and new material from other composers. The opener, however,
"Midnight in the Air,"
is one of the pianist's best-known compositions and its inclusion here is essential. The rhythm section work of
Al McKibbon
on bass and
Bill Clark
on drums is magical in that it keeps an odd frontline --
,
Johnny Rae
on vibes, and
Toots Theilemans
on guitar in perfect synchronicity. Other notables here are the light, breezy treatment of
Armando Peraza
's
"Estampa Cubana"
from
Latin Affair
and the live version of
"September in the Rain"
Shearing on Stage
. The budget price is attractive, but there are better collections out there, to be sure. ~ Thom Jurek