A Portrait of George Gershwin

by Johnny Costa

Overview

Johnny Costa, who has spent many years playing for the Mister Rogers children's television series, is a brilliant pianist whose main influences are Art Tatum and Teddy Wilson. For this tribute to the music of George Gershwin, Costa explores a wide variety of Gershwin material, from very famous songs to relative obscurities. Seven of the 14 tracks are medleys that cover the essence of each selection, including brief glimpses of "Concerto in F," "An American in Paris," and (as a climax) the last section of "Rhapsody in Blue." The closing six-minute "Jazzspeak" features Costa talking about this project, what his philosophy was behind the solo recital, and how he hoped to treat Gershwin's music. It is a perfect ending for one of Johnny Costa's very best all-round recordings. ~ Scott Yanow

Product Details

Release Date:	05/30/1995
Label:	Chiaroscuro
UPC:	0091454033522
Rank:	176882

Tracks

1. Strike Up the Band
2. Bidin' My Time/I've Got a Crush on You/Nice Work If You Can Get It
3. Liza/Concerto in F/The Man I Love/Who Cares
4. Shall We Dance?
5. Love Walked In
6. 'S Wonderful/Oh Lady Be Good
7. But Not for Me
8. Porgy and Bess Medley
9. American in Paris/Mine/Swanee
10. Embraceable You
11. Somebody Loves Me/He Loves and She Loves
12. Clap Yo' Hands
13. Someone to Watch Over Me
14. Concerto in F/I've Got Rhythm/Rhapsody in Blue
15. Jazzspeak

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Johnny Costa   Primary Artist,Piano

Technical Credits

Hank O'Neal   Producer
Ballard MacDonald   Composer
Paul Ryder   Composer
Bernard Edwards   Composer
Bez   Composer
Gary Whelan   Composer
George Gershwin   Composer,Illustrations
Ira Gershwin   Composer
Wendy Carlos   Assembly,Restoration
DuBose Heyward   Composer,Lyricist
Joe West   Engineer
Nile Rodgers   Composer
Buddy DeSylva   Composer
Gus Kahn   Composer
Irving Caesar   Composer
Jon Bates   Editing,Assembly
Mark Day   Composer
Rollo Phlecks   Design,Photography
Shaun Ryder   Composer
Paul Davis   Composer