[Dixielandjazz] George Shearing In Dixieland (Steve barbone)

[Graham Martin]

Steve Barbone said:

[Colin Toomer (lurker from New Zealand) and I were discussing this album off list. I've not heard it hence this inquiry to list mates, and a request for comments.

Has anybody on list heard this album? Please comment, especially about the treatment of Blue Monk, Desafinado, Lullaby of Birdland and Take Five. Sounds like it might be fun to do these tunes. (BSJB does Blue Monk but not the others)

Cheers,
Steve]

I have this album which was recorded in 1989 and I have always thought that it should be called "George Shearing in a Dixieland Band", seeing as how the frontline consists of Warren Vache, Kenny Davern, Ken Peplowski and George Masso. How could you fail with those guys? Well there is one way! You could use your regular bass player who plays two-beat for much of the record. And you could instruct the drummer, Jerry Fuller, to purposely play corny. As a result you have a rhythm section who simply fails to understand the Dixieland style, particularly the more mainstream sounding bands of today. It just does not swing!  It is such a pity because of that excellent frontline playing in their usual professional manner. Although perhaps they had some instructions to create a more dated sound. As evidence listen to George Masso who is one of my favourite trombone players and that is just not his normal style

I will not comment on the treatment of specific tunes, except to say that I agree they are fun to play and the frontline on this recording had no problems with any of them. And after all, isn't 'Blue Monk' much the same tune as 'Pee Wee's Blues'?

The recording reminds me very much of the British Sid Phillips and his Band. Come to think of it, Sid used to tackle tunes that were not usually associated with the Dixieland idiom, and I think I prefer his band to George's.

Sorry, "George Shearing In Dixieland" gets only one star from me and was a big disappointment - especially as George Shearing is one of my favourite jazz piano players.

Grah 

Graham Martin
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