Music Group 2024-03-21 George Gershwin

Above: George Gershwin

This week's playlist was provided by Liz, who also wrote the following comments.

Please read this New York Times article for next Thursday's discussion. "The Worst Masterpiece: Rhapsody in Blue at 100." This article provoked a firestorm of critical reader comments. I will share some of the funny ones at the beginning of the session.

       Rhapsody in Blue, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Eugene List, pianist. Eric Kunzel, conductor.

       Summertime, Duke Ellington (1961)

Generally, histories of American music consider Gershwin more important than Ellington.

       Rhapsody in Blue, Marcus Roberts Trio

Jazz pianist Aaron Diehl has heard Marcus Roberts and his trio play Rhapsody in Blue; he says that they "collectively manage to turn the work on its head, yet also align it with a deeper understanding of the musical references." Here is Marcus Roberts & his Trio, w/Seiji Ozawa, performing Rhapsody in Blue.

       Rhapsody in Blue, Oscar Levant

Ethan Iverson says that Oscar Levant's version of Rhapsody in Blue, has terrible rhythm.

       Carolina Shout (1944)        Handful of Keys (1929)        The Pearls (1923/1924)

Rhapsody in Blue is not source material. James P. Johnson's Carolina Shout, Fats Waller's Handful of Keys, and Jelly Roll Morton's The Pearls are source material.

Finally, an article contributed by Mike.