Peter Anderson, Will Anderson, Molly Ryan
The Andersons Play George Gershwin
59E59, NYC, August 17, 2017
Reviewed by Ron Forman for Cabaret Scenes
Photo: Collette Lash
The third of the four-part Summit Songbook series, created by the saxophone-playing Anderson Twins, Peter and Will, was dedicated to the songs of George Gershwin. (All songs mentioned with lyrics by Ira Gershwin.) Vocalist Molly Ryan’s (pictured) unique sound and manner of delivery make her the perfect vehicle to deliver the Gershwin material. And the eleven Gershwin songs chosen for this show were among his very best. The Andersons’ work on saxophone and clarinet brought frequent cheers from the audience. Each member of the excellent jazz trio was given ample opportunity to show off his stuff. Videos, including a delightful collection of film clips with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, and Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney were interspersed throughout the show. Commentaries were informative and frequently very funny.
The two opening numbers—“I Got Rhythm” and “It Ain’t Necessarily So”—were performed by the band, with each member taking turns performing solos. Ryan’s opening number was a swinging “Fascinating Rhythm” followed by a particularly effective “Someone to Watch Over Me.” Will Anderson’s clarinet solo led into pianist Jeb Payton’s masterful performance of “Rhapsody in Blue.” Peter told of Gershwin going to France after its debut to study classical composition, where he met with many of the great classical composers, including Ravel, who asked him: “Why try to be a second-rate classical composer when you can be a first-rate Gershwin?
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Ryan returned for three more numbers—a very jazzy “Love Is Here to Stay,” ironically the last song that Gershwin wrote, and was very effective with “But Not for Me” and “Embraceable You.” The band performed an original composition by Will Anderson, “Exceptional Elegance,” before closing with the Ryan’s vocal on “They Can’t Take That Away from Me.
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