This “Very Best of George Shearing” is actually a best-of from his years with Capitol between the years 1955-1962, with one stray track from his brief return to the label Fool on the Hill. This release spottily documents Shearing at the height of his creativity and sensitivity to standard and new material from other composers. The opener, however, “Midnight in the Air,” is one of the pianist’s best-known compositions and its inclusion here is essential. The rhythm section work of Al McKibbon on bass and Bill Clark on drums is magical in that it keeps an odd frontline — Shearing, Johnny Rae on vibes, and Toots Theilemans on guitar in perfect synchronicity. Other notables here are the light, breezy treatment of Armando Peraza’s “Estampa Cubana” from Latin Affair and the live version of “September in the Rain” from Shearing on Stage. The budget price is attractive, but there are better collections out there, to be sure. – Thom Jurek
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