Spraying My Night Mist All Over the Place

The George Shearing Quintet with Voices - "Night Mist" (1958) - Capitol Records

Hello Friends,

We're trying to catch a break from these Winter Blues so we cracked open 3 or 4 bottles of wine, dimmed the lights and listened to this LP by The George Shearing Quintet.

For the most part, its a nice, relaxing affair.  We'll give the music a solid "A" (straightforward and competent jazz for the Sears crowd), but we'll give the vocal choruses that appear throughout the record a "D+".  Man, they really bring the record down: they're obvious and obtuse and are mixed too loudly and sound too tinny.  Basically, the "follow-the-bouncing-ball" Mitch Miller vocal choruses are unnecessary and distracting and bring down what is otherwise a pretty good record.

The wine is good though... my teeth are purple...

RATING: 3.5 Polka Dots and Moonbeams out of 5

Nights in Black Satin

The George Shearing Quintet - Black Satin (1956)

Hello Friends,

Turn the lights down low and stop watering down those drinks 'cuz tonight we're enjoying those "satin-smooth" sounds of Mr. George Shearing.  


Shearing-- a skilled jazz pianist with be-bop and Latin influences-- leads his quintet while Billy May arranges the orchestra making for a most seductive listening experience.  Lyrical and mysterious melodies are set to a lush and velvety backdrop.  Black Satin, indeed!


This is serious jazz for the Sears crowd.


RATING: 4 longing gazes out of a possible 5