The Gerhswins
Michael Feinstein is a beloved cabaret performer, pianist, singer and conductor whose encyclopaedic knowledge of, and performance of, the songs of George and Ira Gershwin, among many others, has entertained us for many years. He is an Emmy and Grammy-nominated musician and entertainer, a national treasure whose career is spent in preserving the legacy of America’s popular song.
Having started his career as archivist to Ira Gershwin, I would argue that he knows more about the Gershwins than anyone alive. And I should know because I myself wrote a biography of George Gershwin called, with stunning originality, “Gershwin”.
More about Michael Feinstein? He serves on the Library of Congress National Recording Preservation Board. He is director of the Jazz and Popular Song Series for New York City’s Jazz at Lincoln Center. He hosts the NPR public radio program Song Travels, and his new book, The Gershwins and Me, is a tribute to the brothers who most influenced his career. This video is a performance/lecture he gave to Westminster Town Hall Forum.
He has now received notice that his forthcoming appearance at the Kenndy Center conducting the National Symphony during Pride Week, has been cancelled. He writes, “Since the current administration has banned, cancelled or forbidden…. any concert or program at the Kennedy Center, that in any way allows for the existence of homosexuality… the next logical step is to ban all works written by Homosexual, Bisexual, Omnisexual, Transsexual people, friends of Gay people or people suspected of being queer. It worked for the Nazis right?”
Feinstein has devoted his life to this music. To cancel an expert of his quality, a performer of his popularity, and a musician of his calibre, is simply idiotic.
Take a look at this video, a performance/lecture about the Gershwins in which he talks, sings and plays and you’ll see what I mean.
The post Ruth Leon recommends…. The Gershwins: Preserving an American Cultural Legacy – Michael Feinstein appeared first on Slippedisc.
-5.jpg?w=160&resize=160,160&ssl=1 "Cross-cultural cross currents: Jasdeep Singh Degun with Fantasia Orchestra in Terry Riley's iconic In C performed by string orchestra, piano, sitar and tabla at Smith Square Hall")
