American Rhapsody
American Rhapsody with The Ohio Valley Symphony is currently being broadcast on Public Television throughout the nation.
Above image designed by Kate Coldren.
American Rhapsody is a complete orchestra show featuring masterpieces from the Great American Songbook by American composers George Gershwin, Duke Ellington, Irving Berlin, Will Marion Cook, and many others. The show features two world class soloists, pianist Michael Chertock and jazz vocalist Mandy Gaines.
Title: American Rhapsody
Composers: George and Ira Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Duke Ellington, Will Marion Cook, Walter Donaldson, Isham Jones, John Philip Sousa, Scott Joplin, James Reese Europe, and Traditional. Arranged by Tim Berens
Description: American Rhapsody is a full length orchestra show inspired by the Great American Songbook, featuring masterpieces by George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Will Marion Cook and Duke Ellington and many others. The show features two world-class musicians as soloists, pianist Michael Chertock and jazz vocalist Mandy Gaines.
Mandy Gaines sings 5 new arrangements on this show, highlighting her swinging, soulful singing, and her spectacular ability to improvise vocally, aka “scatting.” She sings Fascinating Rhythm, It Had To Be You, Bye Bye Blackbird, What’ll I Do, and a high-energy Cuban rumba setting of George and Ira Gershwin’s S’Wonderful. This isn’t your grandmother’s S’Wonderful.
Pianist Michael Chertock performs George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. Having performed Rhapsody in Blue 250+ times with orchestras around the world, Michael owns this masterpiece. His interpretation is born of years of study, practice, and performance. Michael’s virtuosic technique makes Rhapsody in Blue sound relaxed and easy in his hands.
American Rhapsody features the Berens Pops Library edition of Rhapsody in Blue.
The orchestra is featured in five instrumental numbers on the concert.
The 10:10 to 1920 surveys music from the years leading up to 1920, with a Sousa March, a Joplin Rag, a One Step March by James Reese Europe, and the traditional When the Saints Go Marching In. The piece is tied together by a train theme, with a recurring train steam whistle sound in the winds that acts as a transition between pieces.
Selections from In Dahomey highlights the first musical written and performed by African Americans to appear on Broadway in 1903, In Dahomey. Will Marion Cook’s music is a rich gumbo of late romantic harmonies and ragtime rhythm.
East St. Louis Toodle-Oo was Duke Ellington’s first big hit recording. It was also covered by the band Steely Dan for their 1974 album Pretzel Logic. This arrangement is faithful to Duke’s original recording. Musicians love playing this one.
Yes Sir! That’s My Baby by Walter Donaldson
Always by Irving Berlin
Instrumentation: 2222/4331/Timp+2/Drum Set/Electric Bass/Guitar/Banjo/Harp/Piano/Vocal Soloist/Strings
Length: 60:00+
Rental Fee: Inquire
Enjoy American Rhapsody with The Ohio Valley Symphony as seen on American Public Television.
