LearnJazzPiano.com archives: What is the George Shearing method?

superp9 -- 08/21/2007, 14:33:35 -- #36501

Also know as the "locked hands" method, what exactly is the George Shearing method?  Is it when the hands follow each other a couple of octaves apart?  I don't get it.  Any information on this will be greatly appreciated.  The more detailed the better?  What's the left/right hands doing?  Are they octaves apart, or some other interval apart?  What's the history behind it?  Does it work better for fast swings, ballads, etc?

smg -- 08/21/2007, 17:19:17 -- #36501

You're in luck here at LJP with this;Albetan has three files that deal with the concept..check this one first- http://www.learnjazzpiano.com/citadel/scotcit.mvc?action=files&sub=file_details&id=1078760083

superp9 -- 08/22/2007, 08:10:16 -- #36501

Thanks!  That works for me.

smg -- 08/25/2007, 12:26:02 -- #36501

Check out the 2 Benny Green solos for more of this style-http://www.jazzcenter.org/

superp9 -- 08/27/2007, 15:53:45 -- #36501

Man, that Benny Green is a piano playing beast.

gandydancer44 -- 08/28/2007, 22:39:31 -- #36501

Got to sit right next to Shearing in a New York City hotel lobby on a Sunday afternoon in 1953. He was playing a free session for whoever wanted to listen. Little did I realize who and what I was hearing. I think this was a fairly common practice in those days. Birdland was going strong and there were a number of great jazz pianists playing there as well.

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