George Shearing: Like Fine Wine

George Shearing's latest release, Like Fine Wine, presents the renowned pianist/composer in a trio setting performing a series of-sadly-quite tired standards.

Certainly, Shearing's abilities are in evidence, shinning through at odd moments throughout the course of the album, but the pieces are taken at such a meandering pace, and have been aged to such a mellow quality, that the resulting interpretations slip dangerously close to the smooth jazz versions, with the most egregious takes sounding almost like Muzak. Particularly painful are the bossa nova rendition of "Giant Steps" and the all but saccharine version of "You and the Night and the Music."

Exceptions to this tedious display, however, reveal Shearing's well-honed gift and will remind listeners why Shearing enjoys the stature he does. Of particular note are the gently swinging, beautifully colored "Moon Ray" and sonorous "Con Alma."

A lesson in poor programming and complacent musicianship, this collection will add little to listeners already familiar with Shearing's extensive body of work, and it should be avoided by those who are sampling their first taste.