Newport Jazz Festival 1959

At the 1959 Newport Jazz Festival, Shearing brought an adventurous new 16-piece group, premiering material from his recently released Capitol album, Burnished Brass. Shearing's usual quintet of guitar, vibraphone, bass and drums was augmented for this occasion by an 11-piece brass section consisting of four trumpets, four trombones, two French horns and one tuba. The result was a sound that was soothing rather than bracing, warm and engaging rather than aggressive. In some ways, this was mood music, strictly intended to appease rather than excite the smooth jazz of it's time. Shearing did spice up the proceedings by mixing in two compelling Latin jazz numbers, Mambo No. 2 and Rondo (both from 1958's Latin Lace album), which showcased the great Afro-Cuban percussionist Armando Peraza (later of the Carlos Santana band).