George Shearing: Conception

The luminous Shearing Quintet of 1949-51 shone most brightly on refashioned standards taken at medium or slow tempos, but George's penchant for boppish originals such as "Conception" provided a welcome change of pace. This group was as remarkable demographically as musically. For one thing, it was racially integrated (40% black) in an era of few mixed groups. For another, its vibist was female, and no slouch; dig her swinging turn abetted by drummer Best, whose brushwork rivaled Caravaggio. Shearing, though, was his own star soloist, masterfully at ease with both single-note and block-chord techniques. Fans loved this group. Rightly so.