Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue; Concerto in F; American in Paris

The best Gershwin pianists are able to fuse a solid classical technique with an innate feeling for jazz timekeeping. André Previn is ideal in both respects. He knows that Gershwin’s lyrical musings need not be distended, as one might do in a Tchaikovsky or Liszt concerto. Previn also accents syncopated figures without overemphasizing them, or beating them into the ground. On the other hand, Previn can’t help monkeying around with the text, but many Gershwin pianists have done worse. The London Philharmonic matches their soloist-conductor in verve and swagger. Fine as the concerted works are, An American in Paris takes the cake in a performance that truly evokes a wide-eyed tourist swept up in the bustle and allure of any vibrant city. The 1971 sonics haven’t aged a bit, and EMI’s newly minted transfer will please the most exacting audiophile. –Jed Distler