America 2 (Gershwin, Shimkus) / Vestard Shimkus

After the volume in which he took us from the post-Scriabin modernism of Griffes's Sonata to the repetitive constructions of Glass, Vestard Shimkus here explores another aspect of American modernity, acting as advocate for the alluring ambit of Gershwin, the first American musician to integrate classical with jazz, blues and popular idioms. The original version for piano solo of the celebrated Rhapsody in Blue and the eighteen standard classics from George Gershwin's Songbook, given in a fluent and spirited arrangement here, form the core of this exciting excursion to New York. And the Latvian adds three personal reflections. His Black Charleston of 2011 and his delightful Rhapsody of Roses of 2021 preserve the magic of the 1920s and 1930s, the era in which swing was cherished so much.