It's Easy to Remember

This British LP features the young George Shearing during three early record dates. Three songs are piano solos from March 3, 1941, and there are two quartet numbers from June 22, 1944. Both of those sessions find Shearing very much playing swing à la Teddy Wilson. But the real reason to search for this LP is for the seven selections from November 26, 1948, rarities that Shearing cut when briefly back in his native England, one year before he hit it big with his quintet. These numbers (standards plus such boppish originals as "The Man From Minton's" and "To Be or Not to Bop") are more modern than the previous performances and feature the pianist showing what he had learned from associating with modernists in New York. Most of this valuable music has generally eluded reissue programs.