As reported in Jazzwise and elsewhere today, the great British jazz pianist George Shearing has died at the age of 91.
![](http://blogs.kent.ac.uk/music-matters/files/2011/02/shearing.jpeg)
Blind from birth, London-born Shearing moved to American and lived in New York; he worked with a notable array of jazz luminaries including singers Nat King Cole and Sarah Vaughan, guitarist Joe Pass and vibraphone legend Gary Burton . Shearing had a deft pianistic style, that moved easily from rich clusters of chords to delicate single-finger melodic playing.
Lullaby of Birdland was perhaps his most famous tune, named after the famous jazz club in New York.
Sir George Shearing: 1919-2011.