Rare Chance to Catch the Shearing Sound

The unique sound of George Shearing’s quintet, with its trademark, effervescent blend of vibes, guitar and piano, has proven to be one of the most endearing, and enduring, in popular music. But that sound ultimately proved tiresome for the British pianist, who, in 1978, disbanded the unit after a 31-year run of solid-selling albums and sold-out performances.

“I couldn’t wait to get rid of it,” he said this week from his home in the Cotswolds in England. (He and his wife, Ellie, split their time between England and New York.) “I felt I’d put myself in a box. I could go on autopilot and play” the band’s repertoire, “so I went to the duo” of piano and bass.

Still, fans of the ensemble clamored for more. Shearing, now 76, didn’t give in until last year, when he made “That Shearing Sound” for Telarc Records. The album featured musicians who had never played in any Shearing fivesome: guitarist Louis Stewart, vibist Steve Nelson, his duo bassist Neil Swainson and drummer Dennis Mackrell.

That’s the band, with Terry Clarke subbing for Mackrell, that will be at the Hollywood Bowl on Wednesday when Shearing appears on a program that also features Peggy Lee and Mel Torme. The engagement follows several other concerts in Europe and the United States.

The pianist said that while he hadn’t planned on touring with the quintet, he’s having “fun, though I don’t want to do this forever. It is interesting to be back in a more structured situation [than the duo] and to play some of the old things,” like “East of the Sun” and the compulsory “Lullaby of Birdland.”

Shearing doesn’t plan on more quintet dates but added: “You never know how things in our business are going to turn out.”

Information: (213) 850-2000.

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L.A. Jazz on Video: Groups such as Shelly Manne and his men, Cannonball Adderley’s sextet, Teddy Edwards’ sextet and the Stan Kenton Orchestra are highlighted on a series of excellent videos from Shanachie called “Jazz Scene U.S.A,” named after a TV show that aired in Los Angeles in 1962. Hosted by singer Oscar Brown Jr., these shows, all photographed in black and white, have a haunting air about them, because many of the artists have died. The music, though, is often first-rate.

Two 30-minute programs are combined to make a one-hour video. Manne’s fine band is paired with Shorty Rogers’ Giants; the sextets of Adderley and Edwards are together on another. Kenton’s band and his ex-trombonist Frank Rosolino’s quartet make up another video, as do trios led by pianist Phineas Newborn Jr. and organist Jimmy Smith. These videos, priced at $19.95 each, are available at most major record stores.

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Jazz on the Internet: KLON-FM (88.1) has instituted JazzAvenue, a World Wide Web site on the Internet that provides a list of the Top 20 albums, CD reviews, a daily jazz hot line and more. The station plans to greatly expand the offerings at the site in the future. Sign on at: https:// www.klon.org/~jazzave.

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Surfing the Jazzwaves: The Bravo Channel airs “Trumpet Kings,” with Wynton Marsalis, Freddie Hubbard and others, tonight at 7, and spotlights African pianist Bheki Mseleku on Tuesday at 3 p.m. and 10:35 p.m.

Art Farmer’s music is featured on “Jazz From Lincoln Center,” airing Monday, 11 p.m., on KPCC-FM (89.3). Playing with Farmer are Benny Golson, Gerry Mulligan and Jim Hall.

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Free Music: Drummer Larance Marable’s quartet plays Thursday, 5:30 p.m., at the Museum of Contemporary Art, (213) 621-1749.

The B Sharp Jazz Quartet performs Wednesday, 7 p.m., at the Century City Shopping Center, (310) 277-3898.

Stalwart pianist-composer Cecilia Coleman’s quintet works tonight at 5:30 at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, (213) 857-6000.

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Critic’s Choice: Dynamic New York-based singer Judy Niemack drops in for a rare L.A. date tonight and Saturday at Legends of Hollywood in Studio City.

Information: (818) 760-6631.