George Shearing Biography

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George Shearing
Love & Romance | 3 CD Set
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George Albert Shearing was born blind in London on 1919, and began playing piano at age three and at twelve was studying at the Linden Lodge School For the Blind in England. By seventeen, he was listening to jazz pianists such as Earl Hines, Fats Waller, Teddy Wilson, Meade "Lux" Lewis and Art Tatum and began gaining a remarkable reputation that subsequently had him named top British jazz pianist for seven years by Melody Maker magazine. Shearing came to the United States briefly in 1946 and returned permanently in 1947 with the help of fellow Briton writer (and pianist) Leonard Feather. He was a strong follower of the growing bop style of piano fostered by Bud Powell but by the dawn of the '50s had formed his own unique sound with a quintet of piano, bass, drums, guitar and vibes, the latter played first by Margie Hyams. He played in the block-chord; or locked-hands style, and soon he was creating a career out of this style of jazz, making giant inroads in jazz recording sales. His first hit was "September In The Rain," this followed by "Lullabye of Birdland," the tune he wrote for the popular jazz club in New York where he played. Shearing remained quite visible and made wide-selling records into the late '60s but he shifted his focus to both solo and trio work, which he does to this day. He plays many festivals and concert venues and has also created a career of sorts playing in classical situations. He is a fan of composers such as Erik Satie and Claude Debussy. He has been associated live and on records with a number of jazz stars, including Cal Tjader, Joe Pass, Marian McPartland, Brian Torff, Jim Hall and Hank Jones and has worked with such known singers as Peggy Lee, Ernestine Anderson, Carmen McRae and most spectacularly Mel Torme, with whom he has made top-selling records. Shearing continues to play and record in the '90s, his talent and artistry still at their peak while his legendary sense of humor remains part of his work.

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