'Porgy And Bess--Live' (Riverwalk Jazz) has Jim Cullum leading his seven-piece Jazz Band through a roots-reverent rendition of George Gershwin's 1934 folk opera complete with narration by William Warfield, who portrayed Porgy opposite the legendary Leontyne Price as Bess in the definitive 1950s Broadway production.
Leave it to Willie Nelson, 82, to thank the Library of Congress in song for being the first country music artist to win the prestigious Gershwin Prize last year-joining Paul Simon (the first such honoree), Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, Hal David, Burt Bacharach, Carole King and Billy Joel-by releasing 'Summertime: Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin' (Legacy Recordings).
Willie Nelson's next album comes in the form of a tribute, to none other than the creator of the Great American Songbook, Mr. George Gershwin. The album, entitled Summertime: Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin, is poised to drop on February 26 but is currently up for listen on NPR.
Willie Nelson's name might not come to mind when you think about the Gershwin Brothers but that will soon change upon the release of his new album. Country music's original outlaw was awarded the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song last November, and to honor the occasion Nelson is releasing, Summertime: Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin -- proving that he too has long admired Ira and George Gershwin's contribution to modern music. PBS will be broadcasting the Library of Congress ceremony from last year which included performances by everyone to Edie Brickell to Neil Young, this Friday night at 9 p.m.
Held annually in Charleston, South Carolina, The Spoleto Festival U.S.A (a 17-day showcase of opera, theater, dance, classical, and jazz music) will enter its 40th year upon its return this May. To honor the city that has hosted it since 1977, the 40th Spoleto Festival’s program will include a production of George Gershwin’s 1935 opera Porgy and Bess, set on the fictitious “Catfish Row” in Charleston. The Porgy and Bess production, which has been over a year in the making, will celebrate Charleston's history at a time when the city needs it most: in the wake of the Emanuel AME Church Shootings.
Sometimes, though, we have the honor of being able to debut music by true legends in-the-making--someone of ever-increasing like pianist Simone Dinnerstein, that is. We'll get into specifics after the jump, but for right now...C-LITE has an exclusive listen to Ms. Dinnerstein’s "Rhapsody in Blue" (by George Gershwin, of course) from her forthcoming album Broadway-Lafayette, releasing via Sony Classical on February 24.
English pianist Mark Bebbington will present “You Don’t Have to Be Jewish," a concert about Jewish musicians and the Jewish influence. The concert will present the world premiere of four lost works by pianist Harriet Cohen. George Gerswhin's songbook as well as works by Debussy, Arthur Bliss and Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco will also be presented.
With Eyes Wide Open on the Upper East Side, Cheyenne Jackson gave a personal, but laughable rundown of his life the past few years. Pulling from familiar tunes as diverse as Lady Gaga, the Gershwin Bros., Satchmo and even a bit of Elton John and Joni Mitchell, indeed, his math was good: tragedy + time = cabaret gold.
“An American in Paris,” the first ever stage production of the 1951 Hollywood film starring Gene Kelly, has Parisians saying “Oh-la-la.”
The changing face of New York City normally turns into a debacle, but seemingly the Gershwin Hotel changed its name and not many seemed to notice. The prominent hotel named after the famous composer will from now on be known as the "Evelyn." The Evelyn derives it names from a "sexy chorus girl from the early 1900s — Evelyn Nesbit," and is meant to represent the changing landscape of New York but more specifically the neighborhood it is located in. But the name change is a strategy of a much larger plan to upgrade most of the historic buildings in the Triumph Hotel portfolio.
The 25-member cast will open the show in Paris this fall prior to a Broadway premiere in spring 2015.
Eight-year-old Angelina Jordan Astar sang an expressive rendition of George Gershwin's "Summertime" on Friday night to win 'Norway's Got Talent.'
A Steinway grand, a Model A, 6 feet 2 inches long, which carries the serial number 87592, making it the 87,592nd piano since the company began--making pianos in the family kitchen. The item in question: an 1897 Steinway donated by Rose Gershwin.
New York City, Union Square residents SONGS Music Publishing will receive full exploitation rights to the George Gershwin catalog--transferred from the Godowsky family and the Heyward Memorial Fund, respective successors to Dubose and Dorothy Heyward.