SUMMERTIME: George Gershwin's Life in Music

As elegant and authoritative and irresistible as the beloved American composer's works, every chapter is filled with deep knowledge and insight and written in charming prose. New York City native and gifted pianist George Gershwin blossomed as an accompanist before his talent as a songwriter opened the way to Broadway, where he fashioned his own brand of American music. He composed a long run of musical comedies many with his brother Ira as lyricist, but his aspirations reached beyond commercial success. A lifetime learner, Gershwin was able to appeal to listeners on both sides of the popular-classical divide. In 1924 when he was just 25 he bridged that gap with his first instrumental composition, Rhapsody in Blue, an instant classic premiered by Paul Whiteman's Jazz Orchestra as the anchor of a concert entitled 'An Experiment in Modern Music'. From then on his work as a composer, pianist and citizen of the Jazz Age made him in some circles a leader on America's musical scene. The shows he scored include Porgy and Bess, his magnum opus. The brothers left New York to write songs for Hollywood but their work was cut short when George developed a brain tumour and died at the age of 38. This remarkable life story seamlessly blends with colourful anecdotes and a discussion of Gershwin's unforgettable oeuvre. 594 magnificent pages, beautifully designed and with a self-portrait in checkered sweater, 1936. Shall we dance?