Gershwin / Fazil Say, New York PO

What's really great is that Fazil Say plays these with humor and lightness. No heavy, pseudo-scholarly seriousness here. He makes the most of his pianistic skill and yet retains the spirit of Gershwin's playfulness and fun. This is definitely a must-have if you love Gershwin.


An Exceptional CD of Gershwin's Music   November 11, 2001
John Kwok (New York, NY USA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

Fazil Say demonstrates his familiarity with Gershwin's music in this excellent Teldec CD. Unlike other classically trained pianists who have opted to play Gerswhin as though it was traditional classical music, Say instead performs these scores as the lively, danceable jazz tunes that they are. He does a fine job emphasizing the connections between Gershwin's music and earlier forms of jazz such as ragtime. Indeed Say demonstrates not only his familiarity with Gershwin's scores, but shows he's having much fun playing them. So do the classical musicians who accompany him on several arrangements. Kurt Masur and the New York Philharmonic accompany Say on "Rhapsody in Blue" and the variations on "I Got Rhythm" with excellent performances of their own. Without question, this is one of the finest CDs I've heard of Gershwin's music performed by classically trained musicians.


Great and subtle pianist   December 28, 2000
Chris Honingh (Krommenie, NH Netherlands)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

Although everything on this disc is also heavily recorded by others, Fazil Say has indeed found new arrangements to the songs and pieces, which made George Gershwin famous. Maybe The Rapsody in Blue is the one that has been recorded most, by any standard. But nevertheless the comparison between versions is always interesting, mostly due to the work itself. Fazil Say has a more jazzy approach than let's say, Michael Tilson Thomas or even Alicia Zizzo (the latter is better than that of Tilson Thomas). With Fazil Say you hear that Gershwins music is firmly rooted in ragtime and music hall, the piano being the one they use in a bar, in most other interpretations there is the tendency to use a grand piano, typically concertlike. Although Gershwin craved to be a concertcomposer (he even went to Paris to ask Ravel to teach him), his strength laid in jazzy, vaudeville-like sharpness, and above all, syncopated music. It was music to dance to. His songs mostly transcend the lightness of musical (music hall) songs, which he wrote together with his brother Ira. In addition, especially Porgy and Bess, which is an opera true to the word, is simultaneously impressing and touching, though halfheartedly unemancipating in its use of so called Negro language. However, Fazil Say has nothing to do with that, and his interpretations are wonderful, in the songs his piano really sings, you do not miss the voice of the singer. In addition, I will not forget to mention the New York Philharmonic under Kurt Masur, who gives an outstanding performance, surprising and full of the necessary rhythm and drive.

The sound quality is excellent, especially brass and percussion. The quintet that accompanies Say in the first four numbers is up to its job and more. The sound of the piano is very well captured.


FANTASTIC INTERPRETATION   June 27, 2000
Birol Ongor (Istanbul, Turkey)
5 out of 6 found this review helpful

This is a MUST HAVE CD for all Gershwin fans. You feel the sadness, joy, happiness, all in this CD. Fazil Say is once again showing his virtuousity as well as his understanding of Gershwin through all the pieces he played, both on solo, quintet and orchestral performances. One feels fully satisfied with the pleasure of Gershwin's fantastic interpretation. Very highly recommended..


I heard this CD highlighted on the radio today   June 22, 2000
Michael Caruso (Boston, MA)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

My local public radio station was playing cuts from this CD all morning as a way to get people interested in pledging money. I already made my donation, so I thought I would give Amazon.com some attention for a change. I was very impressed with what I heard. The arrangements are a mixture of Fazil being backed by a small quintet and the New York Philharmonic. He can play piano! Enjoy!