We are truly fortunate to have the music on this CD preserved. But the best way to appreciate these recordings is to jump in to the era in which they were made. For more about Oscar Levant, I recommend "A Talent for Genius: the Life and Times of Oscar Levant," by Sam Kashner and Nancy Schoenberger. This book takes you into the adjoining penthouse living rooms of George and Ira Gershwin, where Oscar virtually lived for many years. He also wrote three autobiographies that are wonderful reading: A Smattering of Ignorance, The Importance of Being Oscar, and The Memoirs of an Amnesiac.

Oscar Levant was an amazing talent and wit. His insults to everyone were famous, and you never knew what he was going to say next. But when he sat down at the piano...wow! You'll see what I mean when you listen to this CD.

We, in the states, can be very proud of our own American composers such as Ives, Copland, Barber, and especially George Gershwin. I don't think there has been a more accurate musical portrait of New York City than "Rhapsody in Blue". You can just see in your mind the people bustling about, the taxis honking and subways shaking the ground. Then the sweeping horns vividly paint the city skyline in all majesty. Infused with the spirit of jazz (our own American folk-music and art form), the rhapsody exemplifies American spirit of inginuity and progress.

The other pieces are also quite good especially the solo piano pieces which are also quite jazz-like while maintaining the integrity of being truly "Classical".

These versions are old but worth it. The sound quality is somewhat lacking, but the there is a certain spontineaty to Levant's performance; as if he is one with the music of Gershwin.

Comparisons for Rhapsody in Blue:

Bernstein (piano & conductor)
Earl Wild/Arthur Feidler/Boston Pops Orch.

I first knew Oscar Levant as a film star. Never the lead, but a fabulous sidekick for many of the leading men of the era. He always took a turn at the piano in his films. When a movie features that kind of thing, it's usually a piece of fakery. I noticed, though, that Levant was actually doing his own piano playing.

This led me to start looking into his career as a pianist. Turns out he's an incredibly good interpreter of Gerschwin tunes (one of my favorite composers).

Two reasons I don't give this a five star rating: not all the recordings are ones I'd have chosen for myself and I wonder if they could have done better with the digitizing of the music. Nevertheless, this is an excellent addition to a Gerschwin collection. Unfortunately, it's also just about the only Levant music CD available.

This disc is not what you want if you are looking for a mainstream Gershwin disc. It isn't that the interpretations re bad, but the sound is not admirable. If you are a Gershwin connosieur, sure, this is a great disc. But don't get it unless you know you want it.

KNOWING THAT LEVANT AND GERSHWIN WERE CLOSE FRIENDS, COMBINED WITH THE SPECIAL ARTISTRY OF LEVANT, PROVIDES MORE THAN ENOUGH REASON TO PURCHASE THIS CD. LEVANT'S INTERPRETATION OF GERSHIWIN'S MUSIC IS INDEED SPECIAL.