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Shear Brass: Celebrating Sir George Shearing

By Neil Duggan
August 29, 2023
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Shear Brass: Celebrating Sir George Shearing

The work of the late

George Shearing

piano
1919 - 2011

" data-original-title="" title="">George Shearing, or Sir George Shearing OBE to give him his full title, is the subject of the debut album from Shear Brass, a band dedicated to playing new arrangements of his music. They are led by Shearing's great nephew, drummer

Carl Gorham

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Carl Gorham. The album, Celebrating Sir George Shearing, features eleven tracks, five of which feature vocals. All of the inventive arrangements, by the trumpeter

Jason McDermid

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Jason McDermid, have a level of detail usually reserved for far smaller groups.

Whether as a jazz musician or a composer, Shearing is one of the greatest that the UK has produced. For some reason he seems to have been often overlooked or taken for granted in recent years. Blind from birth, his musical achievements are astonishing. His early career found him playing in various band formats with such prominent names as

Harry Hayes

b.1909

" data-original-title="" title="">Harry Hayes and Claude Bampton. In 1947, he became one of the first post-war British jazz musicians to move to the US and prove that success was possible, opening the door for many more to follow in his wake.

In just a few years, he had formed a quintet (piano, bass, drums, guitar and vibraphone) showcasing his locked-hands piano technique and enjoyed enormous commercial success with his "Shearing sound." This led to collaborations with artists of the stature of

Nat King Cole

piano and vocals
1919 - 1965

" data-original-title="" title="">Nat King Cole,

Ella Fitzgerald

vocals
1917 - 1996

" data-original-title="" title="">Ella Fitzgerald,

Peggy Lee

vocals
1920 - 2002

" data-original-title="" title="">Peggy Lee and a partnership with

Mel Torme

vocals
1925 - 1999

" data-original-title="" title="">Mel Torme. His best known song is the jazz classic, "Lullaby of Birdland" (1952). He appeared in the film Jazz on a Summer's Day (1959) and went on to enjoy decades of success.

Joining Gorham on drums, Shear Brass consist of a horn section with

Pete Long

saxophone, alto

" data-original-title="" title="">Pete Long on saxophones and clarinet, trombonist

Alistair White

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Alistair White with

Chris Storr

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Chris Storr and

Simon Wallace

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Simon Wallace, bassists

Alec Dankworth

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Alec Dankworth and

Arnie Somogyi

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Arnie Somogyi, vibraphonist

Anthony Kerr

vibraphone
b.1965

" data-original-title="" title="">Anthony Kerr and percussionist

Satin Singh

percussion

" data-original-title="" title="">Satin Singh.

Sarah Moule

vocals
b.1961

" data-original-title="" title="">Sarah Moule and

Louise Marshall

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Louise Marshall provide vocals along with Sir George's great, great niece,

Romy Sipek

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Romy Sipek.

The album opens with "Conception," one of Shearing's best known tunes dating from his quintet's earliest recordings. The big band swing is immediately apparent as is the clever arrangement that gives soloists a brief moment in the spotlight. The following "Let's Live Again" has a relaxed swing with neatly judged vocals from Moule and fluent piano from Wallace. She is again on top form on "Midnight Mood," where Gorham adds lyrics to his great uncle's tune. Another tune from Shearing's early career is "The Fourth Deuce." This is effectively brought up to date with Storr's trumpet and Long's tenor both prominent. Gorham and Singh enliven the lively Latin rhythms of "From Rags to Richard" as the horns build and sway.

Elsewhere, Kerr's vibraphone together with Pearson's rendering of Shearing's piano style can be heard on "Night Flight." Vocalist Louise Marshall brings her delightful phrasing to a winning version of "Let There Be Love," a track Shearing worked on with Nat King Cole. She also brings her vocal style to Gorham's lyrics on "Easy." The remaining vocal track is "Lullaby of Birdland," Sipek's smooth voice perfect for this satisfying arrangement as McDermid, Long and Pearson provide effortless swing. The Latin "Rondo" rounds off the album with Singh, Somogyi and White making notable contributions.

Harvesting key moments to show the depth of Shearing's writing, Shear Brass are clearly on a mission and completely achieve their aim with this album. Shearing's originals are made crisp and contemporary with swinging brass arrangements from McDermid, creative anchoring from Dankworth, Somogyi and Gorham and terrific cameos from the rest of the band. Fast moving and packed with creative ideas, this is a fitting tribute to the career of an exceptional musician.

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Track Listing

Conception; Let's Live Again; From Rags to Richards; Let There Be Love; The Fourth Deuce; Easy; Night Flight; Lullaby of Birdland; Children's Waltz; Midnight Mood; Rondo.

Personnel

Carl Gorham

drums

Jason McDermid

trumpet

Alec Dankworth

bass, acoustic

Pete Long

saxophone, alto

Alistair White

trombone

Chris Storr

trumpet

James Pearson

piano

Simon Wallace

piano

Anthony Kerr

vibraphone

Arnie Somogyi

drums

Satin Singh

percussion

Sarah Moule

vocals

Louise Marshall

vocals

Romy Sipek

vocals

Additional Instrumentation

Jason McDermid: trumpet (1, 4, 6-9,11); Chris Storr: trumpet (2, 3, 5, 10, 11); Pete Long: clarinet (9), alto sax (1, 2. 6. 7, 10, 11), tenor sax (4, 5, 8), baritone sax (3); James Pearson: piano (1, 4, 6-9); Simon Wallace: piano (2, 3, 5, 10, 11); Anthony Kerr: vibes (1, 7, 9); Alec Dankworth: bass (1, 4, 6-9); Arnie Somogyi: bass (2, 3, 5, 10, 11); Satin Singh: percussion (3, 11); Sarah Moule: Vocals (2, 10); Louise Marshall: vocals (4, 6); Romy Sipek: vocals (8).

Album information

Title: Celebrating Sir George Shearing | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: Ubuntu Music

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