Perfunctory Delivery of Gershwin

This record is fun but hardly essential.

Composer: Gershwin
Repertoire: Piano Concerto in F; Rhapsody in Blue; Cuban Overture
Artists: Jon Nakamatsu (piano), Rochester PO/Jeff Tyzik 
Rating: 3/5

Genre: Orchestral
Label: Harmonia Mundi HMU 807441

Gershwin’s Cuban Overture consists of one show-stopping tune padded out with endless transitionary polyfiller; but it is indeed a great tune and the Rochester Philharmonic dig fearlessly into its Latin groove. The more familiar Concerto in F and Rhapsody in Blue benefit from the Good Time fingers of dexterous American Jon Nakamatsu. The impish piano entry in the concerto’s second movement has puppy mischief and the Finale is swaggering and strident. A pity that in the same second movement the important solo trumpet part sounds so strained and the famous glissando in the Rhapsody is exaggerated ad absurdum. Harmless fun nevertheless.