George gershwin, jack gibbons authentic george gershwin. Originally released by asv, the four discs span chronologically from gershwin s early songs and breakthrough orchestral pieces to his increasingly ambitious output, from the early 1930s up until the final hollywood period and his untimely death in 1937. Jack gibbons does a remarkable job in performing his transcriptions of gershwin s works too remarkable that is. Jack gibbons awardwinning authentic gershwin recordings have been described in the media as a unique testimony to gershwin s genius while his acclaimed recording of alkans infamous op. Jack gibbons george gershwin rhapsody in blue pianoroll transcription virtuoso piano classical music edward jablonski. George gershwin, jack gibbons authenticcomplete music. In 1990, he gave the first annual allgershwin program in london. Jack gibbons plays his transcriptionarrangement of gershwins embraceable you from volume 2 of gibbons awardwinning authentic.
For 16 years, from 1990 to 2005, gibbons gave annual all gershwin concerts at londons queen elizabeth hall, with a gap in 2001 following a nearfatal car accident. Jack gibbons plays his authentic gershwin transcription of gershwins swanee, reconstructed notefornote from gershwins original 1921. An american in paris is a jazzinfluenced orchestral piece by american composer george gershwin first performed in 1928. George gershwin, jack gibbons the authentic george gershwin amazon.
Rhapsody in blue, played by jack gibbons and transcribed by gibbons from gershwin s 1925 piano roll recording february. Teeoodleunbumbo 1919 nobody but you 1919 limehouse nights 1919. Definitions of jack gibbons, synonyms, antonyms, derivatives of jack gibbons, analogical dictionary of jack gibbons english. Sanctuary classics here reissues as a boxed set all four volumes of pianist jack gibbons the authentic george gershwin series. Gershwin created these 18 song transcriptions between 1919 and 1931. They encompass transcriptions of gershwin s discs and piano rolls, the latter often a minefield when it comes to matters of interpretation, though here obviously proving of inestimable value. Listening to it reveals gershwin s ready ease and mastery of the piano and only listeners intimately familiar with the orchestral version will spot the restored five minutes. It was inspired by the time that gershwin had spent in paris and evokes the sights and energy of the french capital in the 1920s. If youve ever wondered how gershwin played his own piano music, you need look no further than here. Finally fulfilled a long held promise to edward jablonski to set some of edna st vincent millays beautiful poems to music immerse the. A bichon frise named flynn won this years westminster dog show in new york. Authentic george gershwin, the gibbons by george gershwin 20041018 jack gibbons.
A look at the extraordinary life and unique keyboard style of george gershwin. Such fustian detail spills over into himys playing, where dynamic swells, jolting accents, and similar pianistic conceits diffuse the musics unfettered flow. To my ears, these jack gibbons performances are duplicates of gershwin s own ancient recordings available on youtube, except of course for gibbons far, far more modern sound. Meticulously tracing and writing down the notes heard on the performances gershwin recorded in the 1920s, he brings to life a nearly forgotten era. Jack gibbons plays his transcription of gershwins 1921 pianoroll recording of swanee. George gershwin, jack gibbons the authentic george gershwin. Below are ira gershwin s original lyrics to the song. Gibbons has done extensive research on the way gershwin played his own music old recordings, radio broadcasts, films, etc. Jack gibbons gershwins second rhapsody masterpiece. He played the pieces at numerous private parties, often with many variations.
Jack gibbons born 2 march 1962 is an english classical composer and virtuoso pianist. From that moment i became a confirmed admirer of gershwin s music as performed by jack gibbons. Gershwin s impromptu performances of these 18 songs served as the basis for the transcriptions. In 1990 he gave the first of what have become annual allgershwin programs to a. His unique playing style can be detected in these wonderful pieces. I will be making available some of my gershwin transcriptions through my. When im dancing i dont care if this old world stops turning, or if my bank is burning, or even if roumania wants to fight with albania. Jack gibbons awardwinning authentic gershwin recordings have been. Thanks to his virtuosic skills gibbons can hold an audience in thrall. Jack gibbons plays his transcription arrangement of gershwin s they cant take that away from me from volume 4 of gibbons awardwinning authentic george g. In 1998, for the centenary of gershwins birth, gibbons performed his unique gershwin transcriptions throughout the world, giving concerts in the uk, holland, france, italy. Gershwins impromptu performances of these 18 songs served as the basis for the transcriptions. Many of jack gibbons recordings can be purchased in music downloads and cd format from in the us and their corresponding companies around the world uk for the uk.
Jack gibbons had already brilliantly transcribed and performed all this. What an emotional night that must have been, just 8 months after the tragic loss at just 38 of americas greatest composer, george gershwin, one of the giants of 20th century music, composer of rhapsody in blue, porgy and bess, concerto in f, etc. Jack gibbons plays gershwin s rhapsody in blue, i got rhythm, etc and talks about his authentic gershwin recreations, with gershwin biographer edward jablonski and broadcaster selina scott, plus. Local favourite jack gibbons returns for his 32nd annual piano concert series. Seriously, his superb 4 volume set of gershwin s piano music should be much better known ive almost worn out my cds.
Jack gibbons plays his famous notefornote recreation of gershwin s legendary 4handed 1925 pianoroll recording of the rhapsody in blue. From gibbons first notes i knew that i was listening to what would prove to be an outstanding performance as indeed it was. Over the 16 years of his queen elizabeth hall allgershwin concerts, gibbons has given the world premieres of at. Gershwin rhapsody in blue genius solo piano arrangement. Over the 16 years of his queen elizabeth hall all gershwin concerts, gibbons has given the world premieres of at least 48 reconstructed original gershwin works. George gershwin, jack gibbons the authentic george gershwin music. Gibbons is by no means limited to the works of gershwin.
Gibbons and gershwin the concert pianist jack gibbons has a love affair with the music of george gershwin. The youtube of the allegro barbaro has long been in my favourites, and as for his impromptu performance of swanee. As for gibbons gershwin, although gershwin is not my favourite composer ive been to several of gibbons gershwin concerts at the qeh and always thoroughly enjoyed them, not least because gibbons has such a way with his audience. Jack gibbons comprehensive gershwin edition is back. In my view, i think gibbons is a very deep and sincere artist. This transcription includes every note played on the original recording including the entire piano solo, the synth solo, and the outro chorus.
Jack gibbons this time of year, when the oscar ceremony. The piano forums are an online community of piano lovers including piano industry professionals, concert artists, recording artists, technicians, dealers, manufacturers, and thousands of enthusiastic amateur pianist. He has also since 1994 given similar all gershwin concerts at new yorks merkin hall, alice tully hall and carnegie hall. His program will include some of chopins most inspired works including the. Thus brilliantly launched, the tune continued to hold a fascination for george, who devoted one of his more elaborate transcriptions to it in george gershwin s song book, published in 1932, and lovingly garlanded it with sublime invention in one of his finest instrumental works, the variations on i got rhythm, for piano and orchestra, in 1934. The young british pianist jack gibbons first came to my attention via three discs of his own gershwin recreations and transcriptions. Jack gibbons official website of awardwinning pianist. Ira gershwin verse music is the magic that makes everything sunshiny. Gibbons all gershwin concerts feature his own notefornote reconstructions and transcriptions of the original recorded improvisations and concert works of george gershwin. Musically, the work is a twopiano transcription of the familiar orchestral work or, to be more precise, the source from which the orchestral transcription was extracted. Awardwinning genius gershwin player jack gibbons plays his solo piano arrangement of gershwins rhapsody in blue, based on gershwins piano rolls. Jack gibbons is able to reproduce gershwin as gershwin performed, in a remarkable recreation of gershwin. Jack gibbons is a unique phenomenon in the musical world of today. George gershwin transcriptions for piano by george.
Jack gibbons own transcriptions and reconstructions of gershwin s original improvisations and concert works are available on an awardwinning 4cd series arranged chronologically entitled the authentic george gershwin on asv. By contrast, jack gibbons who also deorchestrated his own version of the rhapsody pursues an equally virtuosic yet more direct and rhythmically centered course. Jack gibbons 32nd annual summer piano series daily info. Jack gibbons plays his authentic gershwin transcription of gershwins swanee, reconstructed notefornote from gershwins original 1921 piano roll video recorded at a new years eve party, 2007. Flynn, born march 5 2012, was already a seasoned winner of many. Jack gibbons own transcriptions, based on gershwins original material. These concerts feature gibbons own notefornote reconstructions and transcriptions of the original recorded improvisations and concert works of george gershwin. On 25 july 201 8 jack gibbons premiered his latest piano work, a sevenmovement piano suite, at his oxford summer piano series, which was celebrating its 30th anniversary founded in 1988. In 1998, for the centenary of gershwins birth, gibbons performed his unique gershwin transcriptions throughout the world, giving concerts in the uk, holland, france, italy, czech republic, australia, africa, usa, etc. Not least of the pleasure this album gives comes from the song transcriptions. None of these, however, prepared me for his protean way with charlesvalentin alkan, the reclusive, misanthropic romantic composer whose prolific and prolix output holds many attractions and challenges for fearless supervirtuoso types. His performances have been received with tremendous standing ovations in some of the worlds greatest concert halls, including new yorks lincoln center and carnegie hall and. The performance was recorded and can be heard on jack gibbons official youtube site here.
1416 333 219 1174 1105 467 1536 1129 649 1262 773 1240 754 147 1111 22 671 747 1408 1515 155 989 64 1229 61 1545 1537 207 436 683 1079 607 1272 1126 1119 1474 498 649 1014 525 100 1108 809 28