The Fascinating George Gershwin

Don't miss this highly entertaining disc! It is a real gem. Vesko Eschkenazy is the first principal violin of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, and fellow Bulgarian Ludmil Angelov is a pianist who now performs duos with Eschkenazy. Clearly both have great love and respect for the music of George Gershwin.

Fellow members of the Royal Concertgebouw heard about the Gershwin project and wanted to join in. The extra instrumentalists add a great deal of color and texture to the proceedings. George Pieterson brings his liquid clarinet to the stunning Rhapsody in Blue for small ensemble, aided by percussionist Herman Rieken and other string players. The Polyhymnia recording took place at the Doopsgezinde Kerk in Harlem and is ideal, with instrumentalists placed at just the right distance before you in a warm, flattering acoustic. It is at one with the performances.

I find it impossible just to play one track but always have to listen right through. At times seductive, always full of vitality and rhythm, this is a conspectus of the amazing breadth of Gershwin's musical achievement in such a short lifetime, and a tribute to him by some fine fellow musicians. Not only will you hear the familiar old melodies which steal into your consciousness, but discover much that is new, and so want to explore Gershwin further. An ultra-sophisticated jam-session!

5-Stars for Performance, Stereo and Multichannel Sonics.