AMG Review of Portrait of George Gershwin

Scott Yanow
All Music Guide

Johnny Costa, who has spent many years playing for the #Mister Rogers children's television series, is a brilliant pianist whose main influences are Art Tatum and Teddy Wilson. For this tribute to the music of George Gershwin, Costa explores a wide variety of Gershwin material, from very famous songs to relative obscurities. Seven of the 14 tracks are medleys that cover the essence of each selection, including brief glimpses of "Concerto in F," "An American in Paris," and (as a climax) the last section of "Rhapsody in Blue." The closing six-minute "Jazzspeak" features Costa talking about this project, what his philosophy was behind the solo recital, and how he hoped to treat Gershwin's music. It is a perfect ending for one of Johnny Costa's very best all-round recordings.