This 1956 Blue Note release captures the George Shearing Quintet in a series of impeccably arranged, swinging small-group performances. The album showcases the ensemble's signature sound with a focus on melodic improvisation and tight ensemble playing.
- Recorded in New York City on January 18, 1955, this session featured a different lineup than Shearing's more famous Capitol recordings. The album was released on Blue Note Records, a label renowned for its influential hard bop and cool jazz catalog. "The Shearing Spell" was one of several albums Shearing recorded for various labels during his career.
- The "locked hands" piano style, where Shearing played melody in the right hand and chords in the left, gave his quintet a unique harmonic and rhythmic texture. This particular recording occurred during a period when Shearing was exploring different sonic palettes beyond his earlier chart-topping successes. The album was released on the CM BLUE NOTE (A92) catalog number.
- This album presents a more intimate and less overtly commercial sound compared to some of Shearing's earlier work. It remains a solid example of the cool jazz aesthetic prevalent in the mid-1950s. The George Shearing Quintet continued to tour and record extensively throughout the following decades.
The George Shearing Quintet was an ensemble led by the British jazz pianist George Shearing, known for popularizing a distinctive “locked hands” piano technique. By 1956, the quintet had already achieved significant success with its previous Capitol Records releases, establishing a sophisticated blend of swing and cool jazz.
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