The original 1924 Ferde Grofé arrangement of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue for Paul Whiteman’s jazz band has been recorded before, most convincingly by Michael Tilson Thomas and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, who capture the bawdy and brilliant jazz feel of the piece. Jean-Yves Thibaudet and Marin Alsop are far less free with the music (you get the sense that everyone is rigidly counting every beat) with the result sounding rather tame by comparison. Tame also is Thibaudet’s I Got Rhythm Variations, which sounds curiously devoid of syncopation and swing. (Maybe he should take off those dark shades and spend some more time in New York jazz clubs.)
By the time Gershwin composed his Piano Concerto in F he had gained considerable technique and confidence as an orchestrator, and it is his very fine version of this excellent work that we know today. What’s not so well known is that Grofé was again employed to prepare a performing version of the concerto, paradoxically to “jazz” it up (whereas his 1942 filling out of Rhapsody in Blue gave it “classical” street cred). Gershwin was reportedly offended by this, and his estate forbade any recordings of Grofé’s version until the current project. Beyond the implied insult to Gershwin’s orchestrating ability, Grofé’s work offends taste well enough on its own. Grofé reduces the ensemble, giving the work a thinner sound, replacing strings with (what else?) saxophones in many passages. Most egregiously, Grofé throws in a banjo to give the piece that down-home, plantation feel. It’s like Gershwin in blackface.
None of this is the fault of Thibaudet, who gives an exhilarating performance of the piano part, brilliantly capturing Gershwin’s amalgamation of classical and jazz. Marin Alsop’s imposing conducting shows her belief in Gershwin’s music, no matter the arrangement. The Baltimore Symphony provides impeccable playing throughout the program, which is presented in excellent sound.
So, only if you are irresistibly curious about a “jazz” version of Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F should you pursue this disc. Otherwise, the recommended versions will provide you a better (and more authentic) experience.
