Jonah Blum - Fascinating Rhythm by Frederick Hemke

Embraceable You

Embraceable You was first heard in ‘Girl Crazy’ (1930).  It is arranged as a bel canto ‘Recitativo e Romanza’ in the style of Donizetti or Bellini.  The saxophone sings the pure melody of the song in a legato style, with vocal-like cadenzas.  The opening classical recitative is based on Gershwin’s original jazzy introduction.

Scenes from Porgy and Bess

Scenes from Porgy and Bess is derived from Gershwin’s magnum opus, the opera ‘Porgy & Bess’ (1935).  It is set as a tone poem or tableaux depicting the love story of Porgy and Bess.  The arrangement includes Summertime; Bess, You is My Woman Now; I Got Plenty o' Nuttin'; Gone, Gone, Gone; and I Loves You, Porgy.  The songs are joined together as interconnected movements, with Summertime serving as a prologue and epilogue to the narrative.

A Foggy Day

A Foggy Day was featured in the film ‘Damsel in Distress’ (1937), and is here arranged as a romantic Nocturne.  It suggests a foggy, gloomy day for a love-torn gent, with patches of sunshine.  Sunlight and love are achieved in the end, but still there are shades of fog. 

I Got Rhythm

I Got Rhythm was written for the show ‘Girl Crazy’ (1930), and is set as a collection of Vaudeville Variations in the pre-jazz pop style of the 1920’s.  The variations include a ragtime à la Sidney Bechet and a salon waltz à la Rudy Wiedoeft.

Three Preludes

The Three Preludes were written in 1926 for piano.  These wonderful pieces contain jazz and blues-influenced melodies, harmonies and rhythms set as European-style classical piano preludes, creating a uniquely Gershwin sound.  In these arrangements, they have been orchestrated for solo alto saxophone and string quintet.

Fascinating Rhythm

Fascinating Rhythm brought the rhythms of jazz to Broadway, and was a hit song from Gershwin’s musical comedy “Lady, Be Good!” (1924).  It is set as an Introduction and Scherzo—a song and a dance. The Introduction is moody and blue, while the Scherzo is light-footed, with a variety of dance rhythms and styles.

The Man I Love

The Man I Love comes from the show ‘Lady, Be Good!’ (1924), and is here arranged as a tango.  The melody possesses a passionate lyricism that is redolent of the tango, and Gershwin’s bold harmonies create a descending bass line typical of 1930’s or 40’s tango music.  Throughout the arrangement, there are allusions to Lester Young’s famous solo from his 1939 recording of The Man I Love with Billie Holiday.

Cuban Overture 

Gershwin composed the Cuban Overture as an orchestral work in 1932.  It is a highly inventive piece, filled with a myriad of ideas and lively Latin rhythms.  This arrangement re-imagines the work as a solo piece for alto saxophone and string quintet.  The saxophone sings all of the melodies from the original orchestral work:  sostenuto lines, chattery asides, plaintive airs, brassy fanfares, and ends with a “drum solo” in imitation of Cuban percussion.

Someone to Watch Over Me

Someone to Watch Over Me was featured in Gershwin’s production of ‘Oh, Kay!’ (1926).  This timeless song is set as a romantic ballad, evoking the lavish pop standards of the 1940’s and 50’s.  There are a variety of moods and backgrounds to accompany the soloist in homage to the classic arrangements of Nelson Riddle.

Complete music from Fascinating Rhythm

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