Carmen McRae & George Shearing - Two For The Road (1980) CD Rip

Carmen McRae & George Shearing - Two For The Road (1980) is a beautiful jazz album that captures the collaboration between two of the genre's most iconic figures: Carmen McRae, one of jazz's greatest vocalists, and George Shearing, a legendary pianist and composer known for his distinctive style of jazz piano. Released in 1980, the album features a mix of standards, ballads, and upbeat tunes, showcasing the impeccable chemistry between McRae's vocal artistry and Shearing's sophisticated piano accompaniment.

Tracklist

1.I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance
2.You're All I Need
3.Gentleman Friend
4.More Than You Know
5.Cloudy Morning
6.Too Late Now
7.If I Should Lose You
8.Ghost Of Yesterday
9.What Is There To Say
10.Two For The Road
Carmen McRae & George Shearing - Two For The Road (1980) CD Rip

personnel :

Piano – George Shearing
Vocals – Carmen McRae

There are far too few recordings of top-notch jazz singers backed solely by equally talented pianists, so this onetime meeting of George Shearing and Carmen McRae proves to be magical. Shearing recorded solo piano sessions a number of times during his long career, though he rarely played unaccompanied for a vocalist, with the exception of his meetings with Mel Tormé. McRae also had a prolific career and is still in great voice interpreting this standard-heavy collection. Shearing's inventive chord substitutions in "Too Late Now" are a treat, with the singer making a delayed entrance. Shearing is rollicking in "Gentleman Friend" (the album's only uptempo track), which also features McRae doing a bit of scatting. The lesser-known "Cloudy Morning" finds the pianist in a bit of an impressionist mood and also sharing the vocals, while McRae's powerful interpretation of "More Than You Know" is another gem.~ Ken Dryden.