26 May 2020 Norma's tribute to arranger George Shearing who was blind from birth.
)Meanwhile, between the widely spaced meetings with George, Ellie Geffert taught vocal music in East Grand Rapids, then lived in New York City from 1960 to 1967 doing commercials and summer stock. His sense of the world around him is acute. “I’ve only been able to teach her four bars of Autumn in New York, but I’d rather hear her sing lieder any day.” A woman’s physical attributes are not of overwhelming concern to George, as might be expected. George simply calls Ellie “this century’s Florence Nightingale.”By the late 1970s Shearing felt it was time for a change, and in 1978 he disbanded the Quintet in favor of duos or trios: “I thought the sound had kind of worn itself out and would rather let the Quintet die than have someone else decide to put it to sleep!” He continues to assemble the group on occasion, however, drawing upon his current musical associates Neil Swainson (bass), Don Thompson (vibes), Reg Schwager (guitar) and Dennis Mackrel (drums).
It also helped introduce his 100 or so compositions—including the classic Lullaby of Birdland.
“When I play solo,” says Shearing, “I think of the impressionists-Ravel, Debussy, Delius.”The Quintet’s personnel over the years included such stellar members as Don Elliott, Cal Tjader, Gary Burton, Toots Thielemans, Joe Pass and Israel Crosby. He was born blind to working-class parents: his father delivered coal and his mother cleaned trains in the evening. As the 40s rolled into the 50s, George Shearing’s name became a byword for cool jazz sophistication.
Despite his successes throughout England both on his own and in partnership with violinist Stephane Grappelli, the pianist felt the time had come to test the musical waters in the United States.
And whenever critics and fans thought they could pigeonhole him, that quest led him in new directions.Rudresh Mahanthappa left his cape and tights at...From the very beginning, Shearing also demonstrated his talents as a composer, recording several of his own boogie-woogie and stride creations. Whether Ellie, who is in her mid-40s, is de-linting her husband’s tuxedo before a White House performance (as she did in 1978) or holding back post-concert crowds, “she takes away the grueling edge,” George says.After their 1975 marriage, the classically trained Ellie gave up her career as a backup singer and TV commercials actress. (Shearing’s “Songs and Sonnets from Shakespeare” was recorded in England by John Rutter and the Cambridge Singers and released last year on the Collegium album Feel the Spirit. He was far from an instant success.
Shearing was particularly impressed with the 21-year-old Burton, who sought an audition by telling the leader, “You can’t afford not to hear me!” Shearing later insisted that Capitol devote an entire album (Out of the Woods) to the young vibraphonist’s compositions. “Ahh,” he coos, fingering the stern wrinkles in her brow, “you’re beautiful when you’re angry.”His quick intelligence is just as appreciated.