George Shearing Lullaby of Birdland

Product Description Jazz pianist George Shearing's music and artistry are finally preserved forever with this classic DVD, his only live, full-length concert performance on DVD. Magnificently filmed in 1991 at the beautiful Paul Mason Winery in California, Shearing's legacy is now captured forever, as he and bass sensation Neil Swainson caress the ballads of Rodgers and Hart as well as Hoagy Carmichael, swing to the bebop of Charlie Parker, and perform Shearing's original theme song for the famous night club Lullaby of Birdland; a composition that has become a standard of the Jazz repertoire and ensured the lasting legacy of the Grammy Award winning pianist extraordinaire. George Shearing, although blind from birth, is among the most popular and respected musicians of all time. His splendid 'locked hands' piano technique, coupled with a tender touch, has made him one of the few pianists with a recognizable sound. An improviser with a flair for style and melodic elegance, many musicians credit him with opening up their ears to the beauty of tone. This unparalleled DVD, George Shearing: Lullaby of Birdland, helps maintain and continue the Shearing legacy for future generations. Selections include:1. Freedom Jazz Dance2. Why Did I Choose You? 3. Isn't it Romantic? 4. Estate5. Donna Lee6. Memphis in June7. Moose the Mooch8. Lullaby of Birdland DVD BONUS FEATURES:George Shearing BiographyPhoto GalleryBonus Historic Video PerformanceTrivia and Fun Facts SubtitlesInstant Access to Song and Instrumental SolosDigital Dolby Stereo AudioDigitally Mastered Audio & Video Review Shearing dazzles in a string of eloquent duets performances with the remarkable young bassist Neil Swainson… In all, a poignant souvenir of the singular Shearing style. --JazzTimes Magazine This excellent video record was skillfully directed… Shearing achieves a remarkably strong rapport with his long-time bassist Neil Swainson as he authoritatively works his way through a program of pop and bop standards. --Cadence Jazz Magazine The pianist is at his peak in this vintage performance… Shearing always hires the best and the brightest, young double bassists for the duo format he has favored in recent years. And Swainson is no exception… the camera work provides a variety of mostly pleasing images that never detract from the music --The Hartford Courant About the Actor Born August 13, 1919 in London, George Shearing was the youngest of nine offspring in a blue-collar home. His father delivered coal and his mother cleaned trains by night and cared for her children by day. Blind at birth, Shearing was encouraged by his family to sit at the piano when he was only three years old. He is told that he used to listen to the radio, then go to the piano and hammer out the notes until each song was fully decoded. Eventually, he received formal training in music at the Linden Lodge School for the Blind. He attended for four years, which was enough training to win university scholarships. But these awards were not enough incentive to take him from the lucrative opportunity to play piano at the neighborhood pub, Mason's Arms, in Lambeth, for a whopping, weekly salary of one pound and five schillings. In the 1930's he played with an all-blind band, which led him to meet jazz critic Leonard Feather, who booked a spot for him on BBC radio. In 1940, Shearing joined Harry Parry's band. He crossed the critical threshold of his career in 1946, when he visited the United States for three months. He concluded America was the place to be. The following year he immigrated to the U.S. and was naturalized in 1956. He first received national attention in 1949, when he assembled a quintet who recorded and released the hit, September in the Rain, for MGM. The record proved to be a huge success, selling 900,000 copies. This record opened doors everywhere, including the legendary New York jazz club, Birdland. Throughout his career of more than 50 years, Shearing has played with many of