George Shearing & Brian Torff - On A Clear Day - Compact Disc
Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic seal
Concord Records

Personnel: George Shearing (piano); Brian Torff (bass). Recorded live at the Concord Pavillion, Concord, California in August 1980. Includes liner notes by Gordon Raddue.

Like its companion album BLUES ALLEY JAZZ, 1980's ON A CLEAR DAY captures pianist George Shearing and bassist Brian Torff playing a live concert of sophisticated, low-key bop. Well known for the highly melodic jazz sound he produced with his quintet, Shearing brings the same sense of dexterity and accessibility to this duo date. A light touch and an infallible sense of swing characterize all his playing, and he peels off impressive runs, witty phrases, and recognizable quotes in his treatment of chestnuts like Rodgers & Hart's "Have You Met Miss Jones?" and Cole Porter's "Love for Sale."

Torff proves the perfect foil for Shearing with his easy-does-it playing on ballads and up-tempo tunes alike (the latter feature his blazing, quick-witted runs and embellishments). Torff also contributes two compositions of his own, the wonderfully hyperactive "Brasil '79" and the swing-intensive "Blue Island Blues." The set closes with a rollicking rendition of "Lullaby of Birdland," a certified bop classic and the composition for which Shearing is best known. The duo format allows the brilliant architecture of the song to shine through, capping off this technically impressive, thoroughly enjoyable date.


Track Listing
1. Spoken Introduction
2. Love For Sale
3. On A Clear Day (You Can See Forever)
4. Brasil '79
5. Don't Explain
6. Happy Days Are Here Again
7. Have You Met Miss Jones?
8. Blue Island Blues
9. Lullaby Of Birdland