Fascinatin' Rhythm: A Tribute to George Gershwin

This two hour tribute maps the Route to Genius for this great American composer. We’ll speak with those that know his work and perform his work about Gershwin’s relationship with klezmer and the blues, his work for the stage, and his place in the American soundscape. Plus hear great versions of Gershwin’s enduring tunes in jazz, country, the blues and more.

HOUR ONE

Open Bed: 'S Wonderful Benny Goodman Quartet
I Got Rhythm: The Music of George Gershwin, Smithsonian Collection

Nice Work if You Can Get It Billie Holiday with Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra
Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday on Columbia 1933-1944, Columbia

Nice Work if You Can Get It Thelonious Monk
Genius of Modern Music Volume 1, Blue Note

INTERVIEW: Jewish background and Swanee

Someone to Watch Over Me George Gershwin
From Gershwin's Time: The Original Sounds of George Gershwin, Sony

Mischa-Yascha-Toscha-Sascha The Funnyboners
From Avenue A to the Great White Way, Columbia/Legacy

It Ain't Necessarily So Oscar Peterson
The Song is You: Best of the Verve Songbooks, Verve

Swanee George Gershwin
Gershwin Plays Gershwin: The Piano Rolls, Elektra

Swanee Al Jolson
From Gershwin's Time: The Original Sounds of George Gershwin, Sony

Swanee Patti Austin
Avant-Gershwin, Rendezvous

Fascinating Rhythm Cliff 'Ukulele Ike' Edwards
From Gershwin's Time: The Original Sounds of George Gershwin, Sony

Instrumental: Swanee David Grisman
Tone Poems II, Acoustic Disc

INTERVIEW: Gershwin's Rhythm

I Got Rhythm George Gershwin
Gershwin Performs Gershwin Rare Recordings 1931-1935, BMG

I Got Rhythm Fats Waller
A Portrait of Fats Waller, Gallerie

Rippling Waters Willie 'The Lion' Smith
1938-1940, Jazz Classics

Summertime Willie 'the Lion' Smith
Music on My Mind, Gitanes

Prelude #2 George Gershwin
From Gershwin's Time: The Original Sounds of George Gershwin, Sony

Rhapsody in Blue George Gershwin with Paul Whiteman
I Got Rhythm: The Music of George Gershwin, Smithsonian Collection

Instrumental: Summertime Chet Baker
My Favorite Songs, Enja

Suite from Porgy and Bess Morton Gould and His Orchestra
Historic Gershwin Recordings, BMG

I Got Plenty o' Nuttin' Todd Duncan
I Got Rhythm: The Music of George Gershwin, Smithsonian Collection

Bess, You Is My Woman Now Miles Davis & Gil Evans
Porgy and Bess, Columbia

I Loves You, Porgy Nina Simone
Little Girl Blue, Bethlehem

End Bed: They Can't Take That Away From Me Stanley Turrentine
Blue Note Plays Gershwin, Blue Note

HOUR TWO

Open Bed: Oh Lady Be Good The Tremé Brass Band
Gimmie My Money Back, Arhoolie

The Man I Love Herbie Hancock with Joni Mitchell
Gershwin's World, Verve

It Ain't Necessarily So George Kirby
George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, Bethlehem Archives

I Got Rhythm Django Reinhardt
Volume Four, JSP

Lady Be Good Martin, Bogan and Armstrong
Barnyard Dance, Rounder

Summertime Doc Watson
Elementary Doctor Watson, Tomato

Instrumental: Oh, Lady Be Good Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys
San Antonio Rose, Bear Family

Summertime Sam Cooke
The Best of Sam Cooke, RCA/Legacy

Summertime Billy Stewart
20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Billy Stewart, Universal

It Ain't Necessarily So Miles Davis & Gil Evans
Porgy and Bess, Columbia

Let's Call the Whole Thing Off Louis Armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald
Ella & Louis Sing Gershwin, Verve

Instrumental: Rhapsody In Blue Sammy Price and Doc Cheatham
Play George Gershwin, Gitanes

Rhapsody in Blue Marcus Roberts
Gershwin For Lovers, Columbia

Summertime Dr. Michael White
Jazz from the Soul of New Orleans, Basin Street