George Shearing - Deep Velvet - Old Gold and Ivory

Born Blind in 1919, George Shearing Has Become a Legend in Jazz Circles Picking Up a Whole Host of Honours Along the Way. A Young People's Centre in Battersea, South London, was Named the George Shearing Centre in his Honour. In May of 1993, He was Presented with an Ivor Novello Award for Lifetime Achievement. In June of 1996, Shearing was Included in the Queen's Birthday Honours List with an O.b.e. He was Presented the First American Music Award by the National Arts Club, New York City, in March of 1998. The Two Albums Included Here Are Typical Shearing Recordings. On "Deep Velvet" his Piano and Quintet Are Accompanied by a 12 Piece Choir of Woodwind Instruments. In Contrast "Old Gold and Ivory" is an Album of Classical Pieces Give the Shearing Touch. Again featuring his Piano and this Time a Lush Background of Strings and French Horns. - Product description, from Amazon.com

Deep Velvet:
In this album, the Shearing piano and Quintet are the first time set against a choir of twelve woodwinds, and the effect is both beautiful and strikingly new - a refreshing caress for the tasteful music that sets the stage for love. - from the liner notes

Old Gold and Ivory:
Here is Tchaikovsky by Shearing, Grieg by Shearing. Chopin by Shearing. Here are variations on a theme of Paganini by Shearing. And Shearing-interpreted music by Falls, Lecuona, Rimsky-Korsakoff, Cyril Scott and Gabriel Faure. George himself has done the arrangements, placing his piano is a familiar lush background of strings, French horns and woodwinds. The classic have been performed in a modern setting before, of course, But they've never till now been played with the light-fingered elegance of Shearing - the softly gleaming Shearing touch that suggest rich ol gold and ivory. - from the liner notes

Artist: George Shearing
Album: Deep Velvet/Old Gold and Ivory
Year: 1964
Quality: eac-flac, cue, log, artw.
Label: EMI (Digital remaster, 2005)
Runtime: 66:50

Tracks:
1.  Here's That Rainy Day (James Van Heusen/Johnny Burke) 2:27
2.  I Used To Be Color Blind (Irving Berlin) 3:10
3.  Sentimental Journey (Bud Green/Bejamin Homer/Les Brown) 2:48
4.  Passing By (Charles Trenet/Jack Lawrence/Laurent Hess) 2:24
5.  Would You Like To Take A Walk (Billy Rose/Harry Warren/Mort Dixon) 3:01
6.  Signing Off (Leonard Feather/Jessy Russell) 2:25
7.  One Love (Milton Raskin/Julian Lee) 2:30
8.  Nightfall (Manny Kurtz/Benny Carter) 2:41
9.  Willow Weep For Me (Ann Ronell) 2:34
10.  Slowly (Kermit Goell/David Raksin) 2:55
11.  Spring Is Here (Richard Rodgers/Lorenz Hart) 2:36
12.  My Heart Stood Still (Richard Rodgers/Lorenz Hart) 3:00
13.  Ritual Fire Dance (Mauel De Falla) 2:54
14.  Chopin Prelude No 20 (Frederic Chopin) 2:25
15.  Theme From Sheherazade (Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakoff) 2:19
16.  None But The Lonely Heart (P.I. Tchaikovsky)  3:48
17.  Variations On A Theme Of Paganini (Arr. George Shearing) 2:33
18.  Malaguena (Ernesto Lecuona) 2:02
19.  Country Garden (Traditonal) 3:07
20.  Lotus Land (Cyril Scott) 3:42
21.  Solveig's Song (Edward Grieg) 3:34
22.  Fantaisie Impromptu (George Spink/Otis Spann) 2:20
23.  Pavane (Gabriel Faure) 5:21