12 Gershwin in 12 Keys

AMG Review of 12 Gershwin in 12 Keys

Ken Dryden
All Music Guide

The title of this CD is no joke, shortly before a concert was to begin, Lee Konitz announced to pianist Franco D'Andrea and a few friends that they would play "12 Gershwin songs...in 12 different keys." Not that they had everything worked out ahead of time; they took requests and started with "The Man I Love" in A and worked their way up the keyboard a half-step at a time. Since Konitz didn't know all the pieces equally well, there are some challenging moments, when he wanders away from the predetermined key, or in one case, during "Someone to Watch Over Me," accidentally segues into Duke Ellington's "In a Sentimental Mood." Obviously, Konitz had a harder time transposing the alto sax into keys other than those typically utilized for these songs than his pianist partner, but both men do an outstanding job in front of a live audience without benefit of editing or second takes in fulfilling their mission. Also added as a postscript is a brief Gershwin medley from a concert a few days earlier. Recommended.