Sir George Shearing [1919-2011] reached the age of 75 in 1994. In this interview he speaks to Melvyn Bragg about his career and at the piano illustrates his distinctive style, with contributions from Mel Tormé & Cleo Laine.
Great to see this documentary on RU-vid! I am the student who appears in the materclass with George at 43:35 - it was filmed when I was a student at the Guildhall in London in 1994. Thanks in part to his encouragement I went on to have a successful career as a jazz pianist and in my latest project I decided to pay tribute to George by forming a band with the same line-up as his classic quintet and performng his tunes and arrangements. This is our version of his great tune Conception. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-xIQkLUUMug4.html
My parents were both musicians: mom a band singer in the 1940's. Dad in the orchestras aboard luxury ships that traveled to the Mediteranean and Europe in the 1950's. As a kid, I grew up listening to George Shearing, early Chet Baker and Sarah Vaughn, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, many others. My folks lived into their 90's and both of them died in the past few years. But from my heart I thank them for my 'jazz DNA'.
Amen! Pretty ,uch ditto in our house. Daddy lived a few doors down from George in Wimbledon when they were growing up. Daddy would pop round and play with George with jazz brushes on a little leather suitcase
I was just looking for some footage of him playing. I seem to do be losing my eye sight rapidly, and I wanted to find out if he could jump around on the keyboard. Clearly the answer is yes.
Some credits you might like to add to the description. The documentary was a commission for London Weekend Television's South Bank Show for which Melvyn Bragg was the editor of the series and interviews here. It was screened on UK television (LWT/ITV) just the once in 23 October 1991 and directed by Jill Marshall. It enjoys the very special honour of being selected for the US Library of Congress which applies only to works of exceptional artistic quality, in this case, being honoured not only for the subject, but also for the exceptional quality of the profile. The musical segments were recorded especially for the show. Some are from Shearing's appearance at the 'Pizza at the Park' with bassist Neil Swainson, while the others are on location and display a high level of creativity, the sequence at London's Imagination Centre ('Freedom Jazz Dance') being a particular stand out moment.
It took 18 seconds for Sir George to explain his technique. (the "locked hands") But it takes a lifetime for us to utilize and master it.... Brilliant musician.
I'm a player, a teacher and a composer and hear a lot of piano all week. I'm a rock man really....and everything else from ambient noise to classical to funk to punk and everything in between. Out of all genres I can think of, I think there's more NONSENSE in jazz (as well as the obvious greatness and beauty) than any other. So for me, I've decided, George Shearing is the greatest jazz pianist of all time. For many reasons... That opening minute epitomises a lot already....virtuosic but CLEAR, nimble as well as MELODIC. Harmonised lines interwoven. He makes me go 'wow' again and again and again. His taste, his touch, his variety, his dexterity, his eclecticism. Then there's his wit, his warmth and his personability seemingly always. Last but not least....his modesty and generosity as a player. AND as a teacher as evidenced towards the end, how lovely he is with the young lad. There are DIMENSIONS to him. He's not just a name, a face and two clever hands like many other jazzers. Bill Evans was a colourist beyond comparison but he didn't have ALL the rest of the above like George had. And if that wasn't enough.....he brings JOY, god damn it. Jazz pianists everywhere seem to have plenty of coolness, blueness and melancholy as well as grit, groove and edginess....but George delivers JOY. The straightforward direct pursuit of JOY in the genre seems to be overlooked. Too many frowns and blank expressions. George brings smiles...and joy...to the room. Meanwhile it's a shocker to see how few views this documentary has got. I thought it might be because another upload of the same thing has had more....but no. That is a concern because true greatness is not being searched for! Or at least, what was greatness in the past is not perceived so much as such now. Just yet another sign we are degenerating as a species. Final point....WHAT a bass player that guy is. Neil Swainson. Those unisons with George and absolutely ON PITCH anywhere on the neck. Like a modern prog rock player, in fact, rather than a jazzer. BRILLIANT upload. "What is jazz anyway?" :)
Like your commentary. Both musicians, Shearing and Evans, are two personal favorites. Perhaps they're playing counter-part or duets together now - what a gift each of them were to this world. Love Shearing's improvisation here - with "Night and Day", and "Everything I Love" - 26:12
I would agree Sir George was and is one of the finest of all jazz pianists and always a favourite with me and not because he was Brit. . He was something of a showman and liked to joke musically and verbally but certainly had razor sharp musical intelligence. He had the ability to adapt and re-invent his style. Though he admitted his locked hand voicing was taken from Milt Buckner he developed it for the quintet. In fact his later work with Neil Swainson and his solo albums are some of his finest and clearly indicate different and distinct ways of playing unique to him and having a unique sound is the hallmark of a great jazz musician .
One of my favorite if not my favorite pianist. A wonderful musician and HUMAN BEING! Rest in peace George. I saw you live once at Pizza On The Park when it existed in Knightsbridge back in the early 80s'
My favorite Jazz musician of all time, been a fan for about 40 years and I'm only 50🙂 Grew up in the Philadelphia area on a ton of Jazz, so many wonderful and amazing characters etc. Sir Shearing's style/sound is just outstanding. Went to see him with his bassist and drummer at Florida Atlantic University in Feb 2003 just before the fall that eventually caused his retirement. Have a photo with him afterwards can't seem to post it tho. Thank you so much for posting
A great friend of mine introduced me to this master of art. It is awesome to hear his story. One of the instances that hearing more about him helps me appreciate him even more. Go to your local record store and pick up everything available.
Great to see this again. George Shearing is always such a joy to watch and listen to, when he's playing or talking. Many thanks for uploading the video.
It’s lovely to see and hear this ….a dear friend, Alan Foster❤️🇬🇧🙏told me many years ago when I was sitting at my piano 🎹🇺🇸 about the wonder of a man I’d never heard of …George Shearing
Thanks so much for uploading this footage! What a fantastic document of George Shearing. His piano playing has always stood out to me, since I first heard his famous duet with Nat King Cole, ‘Let There Be Love’. It’s lovely to discover that George the man was every bit as wonderful as George the musician.
The tune that Leonard Feather mentions: "Squeezing the Blues" is on at least one George Shearing CD compilation, and I have a copy of it, it's not THAT bad!
Where is this/what is this on? It seems it was recorded on possibly VHS, but I can't find yet, the original. I am absolutely grateful that you uploaded this. I'm just wondering if there is a way I can own it
