Ira Gershwin
Ira Gershwin wrote the words that made twentieth-century American song unforgettable: sly, tender, and built to swing. His lyrics for George Gershwin and others still give singers and jazz ensembles their sharpest material.
With his brother George he shaped Broadway and Hollywood standards that still sound fresh on the bandstand: Let's Call the Whole Thing Off, A Foggy Day, They Can't Take That Away from Me, Love Is Here to Stay, Embraceable You, I Got Rhythm. He also supplied key lyrics for Porgy and Bess. After George's death he kept writing with Kurt Weill, Jerome Kern and Harold Arlen, matching melody with conversational bite and romance that never turns soft. The songs travel easily from a cappella theatre programmes to jazz trio and string orchestra, because the words leave room for the player and the listener alike.
Compositions by Ira Gershwin appear on
The Art of Melody
Jazz legends Tony Gould (piano) and Graeme Lyall (saxophone) offer superb readings of well-known standards, joined by Ben Robertson on double bass and Joe Batrouney on drums.
Seasons of Love
A jazz trio, string orchestra and guest soloists join vocalists Gian Slater and Eddie Perfect. Graeme Lyall’s rich arrangements refresh Great American Songbook standards and other stage and screen favourites.
Polyphony
The Phones were an a cappella group with a comedic bent. This 1984 album largely reflects their interest in contemporary music of the preceding twenty-five years, mixing pop classics with Australian songs and original pieces.
Rhythm of Life
A delicious blend of highlights from Broadway shows, popular music theatre, traditional songs and operatic hits, sung with style by Melbourne vocal ensemble Pot-Pourri.