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The Music Of George Shearing – With The Simon Brown Quintet at PizzaExpress Jazz Club Soho
Courtesy of Denise McDonagh | Posted on December 16, 2021
When
Tue, February 8, 2022
20:00
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Musicians
About
“Lullaby of Birdland” and “September In The Rain” are the most classic enduring George Shearing compositions which not only captured admiring attention when first performed but also remain up to date 21st century jazz classics.
Born in Battersea and playing piano on the London scene, making waves as the pianist with violinist Stephane Grappelli, he emigrated to the USA where in 1949 he formed the first George Shearing Quintet.
His harmonically complex style mixing swing, bop and modern classical influences gained popularity. He became known for a piano technique known as "The Shearing Sound", a type of double melody block chord, with an additional fifth part that doubles the melody an octave lower. With the piano playing these five voices; his band Back to Birdland, Shearing would double the top voice with the vibraphone and the bottom voice with the guitar to create his signature sound. This most notable innovation built a new sound in jazz that changed the way small ensembles performed....