John Lewis/George Shearing solo discs

[Larry Kart]

Lewis' "Evolution" from 1999 probably is the best piano work from him, solo or otherwise, I've ever heard, and over the years I've heard a good deal. Very swinging, almost entirely through arching rhythmic displacements; it's like much of each track is akin to a Louis Armstrong cadenza. Also, lots of creative melodic variations/inventions on familiar material that now sounds quite fresh.

A Shearing Concord collection from previous albums, "Ballad Essentials." What a subtle player of ballads Shearing could be. Some aspects of some tracks are a bit studied -- e.g. "It Never Entered My Mind" flows in and out of a familiar Satie piece -- but the handsome results justify the pre-planning.

 

[HutchFan]

Larry, I've not heard that Concord compilation, but I know what you mean about Shearing being "studied but effective" on ballads.  . . .Have you heard the solo release that Shearing did for MPS? He interweaves Debussy with "My Ship." It's absolutely gorgeous -- but it feels as much like classical music as it does jazz.

 

[Larry Kart]

3 hours ago, HutchFan said:

Larry, I've not heard that Concord compilation, but I know what you mean about Shearing being "studied but effective" on ballads.  . . .Have you heard the solo release that Shearing did for MPS? He interweaves Debussy with "My Ship." It's absolutely gorgeous -- but it feels as much like classical music as it does jazz.

 

Don't know that one; I'll keep my eyes open. Way back when -- the early '80s? -- I talked to Shearing after a performance at Rick's Cafe Americain in Chicago and mentioned that on one of of his ballad performances it sounded like he was interweaving a Brahms Intermezzi. He said he was and was pleased that someone noticed, though I think his primary goal was to amuse himself as well as to come up with something that worked well in musical terms.

[mikeweil]

His first solo piano CD on Capitol gives plenty of evidence of his wide knowledge of classical piano - a whole LP worth of bonus material on the CD reissue. I never heard a jazz pianist interweave classical elements so cleverly and authentically as Shearing did.

[jlhoots]

Evolution is in 2 volumes - but I'm sure you know that.

[Larry Kart]

1 hour ago, jlhoots said:

Evolution is in 2 volumes - but I'm sure you know that.

Didn't know it; will remedy. Thanks.

[jlhoots]

5 hours ago, Larry Kart said:

Didn't know it; will remedy. Thanks.

Evolution 2 is not a solo album, but still is very nice IMO.

[mikeweil]

The only John Lewis solo piano album I know that comes close to Evolution I is Private Concert  from 1990 - there is blues tune on it that is rather simple, but played so heartfully that it moves me to tears ...

[six string]

On August 3, 2016 at 9:14 AM, mikeweil said:

The only John Lewis solo piano album I know that comes close to Evolution I is Private Concert  from 1990 - there is blues tune on it that is rather simple, but played so heartfully that it moves me to tears ...

 

Is this still available?  I've become quite the fan in my autumnal years.  I will concur on both Evolution I and II.  The recording quality is really top shelf as well, something I'm not used to with Atlantic.  They did John right for his final releases.  II is indeed a small group and not solo but ot is elegant and understated as one would expect from Mr. Lewis.  Two pf nis best albums and he saved them for last.  How many artists get to do that?  

 

*off to google this Private Concert*

Edited August 6, 2016 by six string

[mikeweil]

AFAIK Private Concert (he had his own Steinway moved to a New York church for the recording) is OOP, but used copies are available for acceptable prices.

Another fan of the two Evolution albums here. Lewis repeated his repertoire very much on his albums, but always found fresh approaches.

There is a fine trio album from 1987 with Howard Collins and Marc Johnson on EmArcy, The Garden Of Delight/Delaunay's Dilemma that is on the same level and in the same spirit as Evolution II.

[T.D.]

Sorry for going OT, but...

I've always been curious about Lewis's Bach discs. Are they worth checking out? Some years ago they were too pricey, but now I see a few candidates on Amazon.