Revisiting the Great American Songbook has become a Great American pastime for musicians of all genres, from Rod Stewart on up. Most of these interpretations are fairly straightforward renditions. On this project however, the music of George and the lyrics of his brother Ira are backed by heavy beats and funky bass.

1. BR6 "Summertime (Pleno Verão)"
2. Greg Minnick "How Long Has This Been Going On? (feat. Lauren Carter)"
3. Billy Paul Williams "I Got Rhythm (feat. Charlotte McKinnon)"
4. Billy Paul Williams "Someone To Watch Over Me (feat. Brooke)"
5. Billy Paul Williams "Fascinating Rhythm"
6. Dalminjo "How Long Has This Been Going On?"
7. Billy Paul Williams "It Ain't Necessarily So (feat. Charlotte McKinnon)"
8. Billy Paul Williams "Embraceable You (feat. Ana Robles)"
9. Billy Paul Williams "I Got Plenty O Nothin'"
10. Billy Paul Williams "Rhapsody In Blue"
11. DJ Le Spam and the Spam Allstars "Let's Call The Whole Thing Off"
12. BR6 "Summertime (Pleno Verão Reprise)"

The twelve tracks may be a bit disconcerting for those who are expecting to hear Gershwin done like Ella Fitzgerald or Tony Bennett, but the singing by both female and male vocalists is quite good. It is simply modern. The piano, and sometimes the orchestra, are replaced by electric keyboards and sampling.

Some ideas work better than others. Billy Paul Williams's version of "Rhapsody In Blue" has fast Latin rhythms, which occasionally slow down for piano sections of the "Rhapsody". The stop-and-go concept does not work for this piece. Williams does much better with his easygoing vocals on "I Got Plenty of Nothin'".

Standout tracks are the first and last, a smooth version of "Summertime" with an ending reprise by BR6, a six-piece Portuguese a capella group. Another is "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off". The comedic lyrics are not here, but the DJ Le Spam and the Spam All Stars wonderfully mix modern electronics with a Latin orchestra vibe.

It's lucky they didn't call the whole thing off, "The Gershwin Project" is an enjoyable experiment that should contribute to the appreciation of this classic music.

~ Dave Howell

Add a Comment