Classic Ross Amico

Tag: Al Jolson

Vintage Gershwin on the Lost Chord

This week on “The Lost Chord,” it’s very clear our love (for Gershwin) is here to stay!

We’ll get a jump on the Fourth of July celebrations with an hour of vintage recordings of music by one of our most versatile composers.

George Gershwin occupied a unique place in American music, rising from Tin Pan Alley scrapper to Broadway royalty. From there, he conquered the concert hall and even the opera house, with his blend of popular song, jazz, blues, spirituals and European classical forms.

Like Franz Schubert a hundred years before, Gershwin managed to churn out an astonishing amount of music over a comparatively brief span. His songs, in particular, have been of enduring interest. His gift of lyricism and invention defied early critics as he bestrode the worlds of popular and classical music like an American colossus.

Sadly, at the peak of his success, he died of a brain tumor at the age of 38.

We’ll sample Gershwin’s artistry in recordings of the era, including several songs performed by Al Jolson, Fred Astaire, and Ella Logan. (So many excellent recordings to choose from!)

We’ll also hear the world premiere recording of “An American in Paris” – performed by the Victor Symphony Orchestra (really members of the Philadelphia Orchestra), with the composer himself on the celesta – and the Concerto in F, performed as part of a memorial concert at the Hollywood Bowl, with the composer’s friend, Oscar Levant, as soloist.

Three of these recordings date from 1937, the year of the composer’s death. All are from his era. I hope you’ll join me for “Vintage Gershwin,” this week on “The Lost Chord,” now in syndication on KWAX, the radio station of the University of Oregon!

Clip and save the start times for all three of my recorded shows:

PICTURE PERFECT, the movie music show – Friday at 8:00 PM EDT/5:00 PM PDT

SWEETNESS AND LIGHT, the light music program – ALL NEW! – Saturday at 11:00 AM EDT/8:00 AM PDT

THE LOST CHORD, unusual and neglected rep – Saturday at 7:00 PM EDT/4:00 PM PDT

Stream them, wherever you are, at the link!

https://kwax.uoregon.edu/

PHOTO: (left to right) Astaire with George and Ira Gershwin

June 29, 2024
Gershwin’s Genius: July 4th on The Lost Chord

Happy Independence Day! This Sunday night on “The Lost Chord,” cap your Fourth of July celebrations with an hour of vintage recordings of the music of George Gershwin.

Gershwin occupied a unique place in American music, rising from Tin Pan Alley scrapper to Broadway royalty. From there, he conquered the concert hall and even the opera house, with his blend of popular song, jazz, blues, spirituals and European classical forms.

Like Franz Schubert a hundred years before, Gershwin managed to churn out an astonishing amount of music over a comparatively brief span. His songs, in particular, have been of enduring interest. His gift of lyricism and invention defied early critics as he bestrode the worlds of popular and classical music like an American colossus.

Sadly, at the peak of his success, he died of a brain tumor at the age of 38.

We’ll sample Gershwin’s artistry in recordings of the era, including several songs performed by Al Jolson, Fred Astaire and Ella Logan. (So many excellent recordings to choose from!)

We’ll also hear the world premiere recording of “An American in Paris” – performed by the Victor Symphony Orchestra (really members of the Philadelphia Orchestra), with the composer himself on the celesta – and the Concerto in F, performed as part of a memorial concert at the Hollywood Bowl, with the composer’s friend, Oscar Levant, as soloist.

Three of these recordings date from 1937, the year of the composer’s death. All are from his era. I hope you’ll join me for “Vintage Gershwin,” this Sunday night at 10:00 EDT, on WWFM – The Classical Network and wwfm.org.

PHOTO: (left to right) Astaire with George and Ira Gershwin

July 4, 2021
I Love to Singa: Al Jolson’s Cartoon Classic

“I love to singa, about the moona and the Juna and the springa…”

Owl Jolson:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2ijkn_i-love-to-singa_shortfilms

Al Jolson and the irrepressible Cab Calloway:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jchyev9bNk

June 6, 2017
TCM Celebrates Jewish Film & The Jazz Singer

“You ain’t heard nothin’ yet!”

Turner Classic Movies: TCM will begin its month-long festival, “The Projected Image: The Jewish Experience in Film,” tonight at 8 ET. Robert Osborne’s co-host for the event, which will air on Tuesday evenings through September, will be Eric Goldman.

The prime time schedule features two versions of “The Jazz Singer,” including the one commonly credited as the first feature-length quasi-talkie, starring Al Jolson, and a musical version with Danny Thomas. (Sorry, no Neil Diamond.)

Tonight’s line-up:

8:00 The Jazz Singer (1927)
9:45 The Jazz Singer (1953)
11:45 Hester Street (1975)
1:30 Avalon (1990)

“The Jazz Singer” tells the story of a cantor’s son, who forsakes the ways of his fathers to pursue his dream of finding work in show business. This, of course, sets up a conflict of duty and devotion to family vs. the protagonist’s hopeless love for worldly jazz.

Jolson, who was born Asa Yoelson, sells it all with a confidence born of the stage, including, naturally, “Mammy,” delivered in his signature black-face. The cantor is played by Warner Oland, who would later achieve enduring fame as Charlie Chan.

Lest you be tempted to dismiss the film on these grounds as a landmark of racial insensitivity, “The Jazz Singer” is a fascinating document on many levels, dealing with the issues of personal and ethnic identity, an inspiring example of the immigrant experience in a country determinedly on the way up. The film proved a major hit and changed the industry forever.

Here’s the full TCM festival schedule:

http://www.tcm.com/projectedimage/schedule.html

And a snippet of Jolson’s immortal improvisation prior to launching into “Toot, Toot, Tootsie”:

PHOTO: “TRADITION!” Warner Oland (center) with Jolson at the piano

September 2, 2014

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