By Grofe: Original Orchestrations & Arrangenments

In this swinging set of symphonic jazz, Steven Richman and the GRAMMY® nominated Harmonie Ensemble New York perform a fascinating selection of music by George Gershwin. In addition to a reconstruction of Gershwin s own 1934 orchestration of the I Got Rhythm Variations, Richman offers several orchestrations penned by composer and arranger Ferde Grofé in the 1920 s for the Paul Whiteman Orchestra. The disc s main event is a red-hot performance of the original jazz band version of the immortal Rhapsody in Blue with pianist Lincoln Mayorga. The famous clarinet solo is played by the late, great Al Gallodoro, who was in his late nineties when the recording was made. Gallodoro played clarinet in the Whiteman Orchestra and can claim the distinction of having the world s record for the most performances of the work s iconic slide (over 10,000 times). Also included are a selection of Gershwin s Broadway tunes including Summertime in a beautiful reading by Gallodoro and Mayorga, but the album s special gem is a reading of The Yankee Doodle Blues, recorded by the Harmonie Ensemble New York on a wax cylinder (!) using a 1909 Edison Fireside phonograph.