This is Americana. This is New York. This is jazz, baby. This is Gershwin!
The New York Philharmonic with Leonard Bernstein conducting and playing the piano.
This is a masterpiece!
It is my honor to present a musical portrait of early-20th-century New York City. Here is the genius of George Gershwin and “Rhapsody in Blue”.
Now here’s something you don’t see every day – the maestro himself playing his composition “I’ve Got Rhythm”. I can’t think of a more fitting piece for The Rhythm Section!
I am in awe and words fail me, which is a rarity.
If you are not familiar with Gershwin, I recommend you read about the man, his vast repertoire and his very short life. Sometimes I wonder what more he would have accomplished had he lived longer. This is the music that will last for generations after we are gone.
There is no question of the day but I’d love to know what you thought of George Gershwin’s music.
Well, I’m not sure how next week’s In The Groove is going to compare to this, but I’ll try my best to come up with something great. Meet me here again, won’t you?
Deb’s up tomorrow with another location to visit on her magical musical mystery tour. Stop by and check it out.
See you on the flip side.
I’m The Sicilian Storyteller
NAR © 2023
The Elephant's Trunk 
It’s such a fabulous song. Timeless genius.
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An epic piece and a brilliant comment Misky … timeless genius!
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I don’t mind a bit of Gershwin but know nothing about him.
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Check him out, Pete. It makes for a good read.
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The chord changes for “I Got Rhythm” are basis for a lot of other songs, including the theme for “The Flintstones.”
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Ok, now I have to give that a closer listen! 😂
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Charlie Parker uses them a lot. There’s a list on this page: https://www.jazzstandards.com/theory/rhythm-changes.htm
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Thanks for the link, John. I’m looking forward to checking it out.
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I love Rhapsody in Blue, and seeing/hearing Bernstein play it is phenomenal. Almost untouchable. Then you found footage of Gershwin playing I Got Rhythm. I’m gobsmacked. I never thought I’d see/hear him play. That video is a treasure. What an amazing way to start the day.
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Staci, YOU have made my day with that comment! It truly does my heart good to know you get where I’m coming from and feel the same way. Gershwin is magic and when you said “untouchable” you were 100% correct. I’m glad you love this segment as much as I do!
Thanks so much for your excellent comment!
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“This is Americana. This is New York. This is jazz, baby. This is Gershwin!”…nuff said!
And L Bernstein ! We may associate him with his masterpiece, the operatic musical West Side Story but let us not forget that he broke a long standing boundary by being the first american born to conduct a major american symphonic orchestra.
Loved both videos, Nancy; footprints of a time gone. But not forgotten.
And excellent pairing with your Immigrants story @ The Elephant’s Trunk.
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Thanks, Nick! It truly boggles the mind when you think of the accomplishments of these two men … West Side Story, Porgy & Bess, Candide, An American in Paris … I could go on but you get my drift.
Gershwin, a native son of NY, living on 106th St and Riverside Drive; Bernstein, from Massachusetts but an adopted son of NY. Like another beloved adopted son of NY, John Lennon, Bernstein lived and died in in his apartment at The Dakota. John lived and was murdered on the front steps of The Dakota.
The amount of creative genius in these men is difficult to fathom. I would give anything for five minutes with Gershwin.
Thank you for noticing the connection between my story today on The Elephant’s Trunk and this post. It makes the little extra effort all worthwhile! 💫
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A very talented man. Did he write the music?
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Yes, Deb. George Gershwin is the composer of many works; “Rhapsody In Blue” is his most famous piece. He is the man featured in the 2nd video. Leonard Bernstein is playing the piano (and conducting) in the first video.
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