George Shearing and Neil Swainson in Munich

Sir George Shearing (knighted for services to music in his British homeland) was a truly prolific composer and songwriter. With over 300 pieces to his name, including the solid-gold standard "Lullaby of Birdland," made famous by the likes of Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan, Shearing's name is forever etched into the repertoire of modern music. From starting out in pubs in South London to having album's chart in four consecutive decades, Shearing played with everyone on the circuit, notably including Stéphane Grappelli during WW2. 

Here, he is joined by Neil Swainson, the Canadian jazz double bassist who is known for accompanying greats like Sonny Still and Herb Ellis. The two played together extensively from 1986 all the way up until Shearing's death in 2011. Still full of hard-won touch and poise, Shearing leads a beautiful set, demonstrating a little of what used to be known as "The Shearing Sound," a way of extending the melody across different pitches to create a fuller and more characterful sound.