Shearing's Piano Meets Brown's Steady Pulse
Ray Brown's bass anchors George Shearing's piano in a late-career trio that swings without fuss.
The rhythm section is what makes this record. Ray Brown plays double bass with the same steady, singing authority he brought to countless sessions, and his lines give George Shearing's piano a floor to bounce off. Shearing, long famous for his block-chord style and the quintet that made him a household name, stays in a trio format here, and that choice keeps the music open and conversational. Marvin "Smitty" Smith on drums adds a more contemporary push than Brown's usual company, so the album sits slightly apart from the classic swing sessions Brown was known for.
The record is not a reinvention. Shearing plays standards and originals with clarity and a light touch, and the pleasure lies in hearing two veterans and a younger drummer find an easy groove. Some tracks lean on familiar phrasing, and a few moments feel more like polite conversation than discovery. That is fine. It is a solid, enjoyable trio record.
For listeners new to Shearing, this is not the place to start; earlier work with his quintet is more essential. But for fans of Brown or of piano trios in general, Breakin' Out (1987) offers a relaxed, well-played hour with two players who clearly enjoyed working together.
Who's playing
Where next?
More by George Shearing
Beauty and the Beat! 1959
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George Shearing and the Montgomery Brothers 1966
Bossa Nova 1963
On the Sunny Side of the Strip 1960
The musicians on this record
Their own records, close in time
