George Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue (Piano & Jazz Band) | Wayne Marshall | WDR Funkhaus Orchestra

"Rhapsody in Blue" by George Gershwin in the version for piano and jazz band, arranged by Ferde Grofé, played by the WDR Funkhaus Orchestra conducted by Wayne Marshall. Recorded live at the WDR Funkhaus Wallrafplatz on July 2, 2021.
WDR Funkhaus Orchestra
Wayne Marshall, piano and conductor
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[@Drew039]

Wayne is my favorite interpreter of Gershwin. I know he has a love of classical but he would make one hell of a jazz pianist

[@amyhymon6758]

This is what George Gershwin would want ❤ This is why I keep playing

[@WDRKlassik]

🥰

[@bob-N4REE]

Spectacularly bright piano. THANKS Maestro! ...and even a banjo too! BEST WISHES Mr. Marshall on your next endeavors.

[@Turbigoo]

Not so common to see (hear) such a brilliant conductor & soloist 😍

[@WDRKlassik]

Thank you 🥰

[@EllenpearlJackson-hm2yl]

This music this music has the most calming effect for me it's just downright beautiful I love it Love George Gershwin rest in peace beautiful soul

[@WDRKlassik]

We're glad that you like the music! 🤗

[@TheStockwell]

After hearing the original version, the orchestral version sounds like elevator or supermarket music. No - this upload by these brilliant musicians is how Gershwin's most famous work was meant to be heard. Extra thumbs-up for Mr. Marshall's showy and skilled performance - and improvisation! - from the keyboard. ☺

[@Sacto1654]

Grofé wrote arrangements for larger orchestras probably to make the piece more "acceptable" to the more traditional classical music audience, in my opinion. That's why the 1942 version is the one most people are familiar with. It wasn't until 1976 when Michael Tilson Thomas performed it that the original version for piano and jazz orchestra started to come back into vogue.

[@jhpvids]

Just phenomenal piece of music. Wayne Marshall is brilliant ❤️❤️❤️

[@WDRKlassik]

❤

[@rudolffritzroessle6581]

Welch wunderbare Stimmungslagen man mit Musik herbeizaubern kann.

[@WDRKlassik]

Schön, dass wir Ihnen eine Freude bereiten konnten.

[@patsygoddard2791]

I could just listen to my cousin play all day. Brilliant 👏 as always Wayne, so very proud of you

[@kellykim0226]

Now THIS is my FAV recording for this piece!

[@WDRKlassik]

Yeah 🎊

[@timschulz9563]

This is probably one of the best version of Rhapsody in Blue. I'm not sure if this is better than the interpretation by Herbie Hancock but it's definitely close.

[@WDRKlassik]

Aw, thank you 😍

[@bryangl1]

I'm sorry, but this doesn't sound the way Gershwin would have approved. Yes, they are following the Grofe score, but, except for a few spots, don't achieve either the Grofe 'sound', nor does the piano achieve a Gershwin style. There are a number of surviving audible documentations for reference. So, this must be seen as a vehicle for the pianist and not a re-creation of the Gershwin and Grofe intentions.

[@marcothyssen9142]

It's been a long time since I heard such a wonderful version of Rhapsody. Wayne Marshall really brings it all home for me. Many congratulations!!

[@mistyjomc1]

Rhapsody in Blue is my favorite song of all time. This version is so fresh and exciting! I love it completely. I will have to listen to more of your music.

[@WDRKlassik]

Thank you! We are glad that you like it 😊 We have all kinds of music here on our channel. Feel free to explore! 🤗

[@johnturley8621]

Mer-say! I don't think I've ever heard anyone/any orchestra use such fast tempi on this piece in all my decades of hearing it! Nor have I heard this arrangement of it before...and (for my ears anyway) the completely new piano improvisation; I wonder if the composer allowed for that possibility when he composed it? It's a measure of how well-composed and rugged it is to begin with that all these "differences" can be convincingly integrated into the whole. In a word: very nicely done. Thank you VERY much. JAT😊

[@WDRKlassik]

Thank you for the compliment! We're glad that you enjoyed our interpretation 🤗

[@MusicSim8]

Fun thing about this piece in particular is that the original performance had improvised piano parts from Gershwin himself and we have no idea what he played because that performance wasn't recorded in any way. Gershwin only wrote the "official" piano part after the premiere. So improvising the piano parts here is in keeping with the original spirit of the piece.

[@galinakrivulin6767]

Like it very much and sharing.

[@igorpaphnutius6065]

Er spielt es bedeutend besser als die besten klassischen Pianisten.

[@sydneydaviston-atkins2936]

I got chills! I love this version.

[@WDRKlassik]

Thank you so much 🥰

[@bryangl1]

I'm not totally sure about it being the Grofe arrangement - well, not quite. The number of players seems to be right (19, or close to), but sounding like a twenty-first century ensemble, rather than 1920s to 1930s band (although the opening with the clarinet is fabulous!). OK, I'm being fussy/pedantic, and it's just my opinion - of course it is - and I would need to listen with a Grofe score at hand, and still not be able to pinpoint where I think things aren't quite right. So I should shut up and go, listen to a version that I'm happy wirh - and that's a specific Yuja Wang performance, with an orchestra that's far too large - but manages to get exactly the right feel. Here, the size is right, but the ensemble playing is - what? too good? - perhaps - but not as simple as that.

[@sydneydaviston-atkins2936]

@@bryangl1 I don't know why you are responding to me...

[@bryangl1]

@@sydneydaviston-atkins2936 Sorry Sydney, my reply was intended for someone else but ended up being directed to this thread, and sitting below your name. You may notice that on the first line there is no name - whilst it wasn't specifically directed to you, that's where it accidentally ended up. I see that my name is splashed too widely here, I will delete all of them except the one that prompted this. Again, sorry for the mix up.

[@user-kl9wr1kj9r]

Incredible originality always wins through! ❤

[@WDRKlassik]

🤗

[@kChallo]

Touched😢

[@yuta7160]

Outstanding !! This is the music that makes people smile and move 😍

[@WDRKlassik]

Thank you! 🥰

[@shabbazzorganicsllc]

That was the dopest, most exciting concert! Masterful!

[@macguysgarage]

oh my! its "comfort food for your ears!" beautiful always loved George Gershwin...you took it to a new level! bravo!

[@WDRKlassik]

What a nice compliment! Thank you 🥰

[@ricardonascimento6020]

Vida nova!!! Que maravilha!! O pianista improvisa!! BRAVO!!!

[@top88piano]

Fabulous!!!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@TheBaritoneCrooner]

This is a nice change of pace from the Denis Matsuev version with orchestra and jazz trio. It’s MUCH less indulgent than Matsuev’s arrangement where his group has THREE extended trio sections within the framework of the original piece. Frankly, I’m amazed the Russian audiences they played for enjoyed or even understood the decidedly American, straight ahead jazz sections interspersed within the original Rhapsody. This version is more in line how I feel Gershwin himself would find it much more enjoyable from his box seat! It’s also nice to hear a closer arrangement to Grofé / Whiteman’s original performance. Banjo and all! BTW, anyone know what the story is on the framed pictures on little lighted tables? Comical placeholders for members who aren’t in this smaller setup?

[@WDRKlassik]

The video is a recording of the farewell concert we played with and for Wayne Marshall, when his period as the chief conductor of WDR Funkhausorchestra ended. So the pictures are part of the orchestras attention towards Wayne Marshall, to say thank you, goodbye and see you soon again. 😊

[@WDRKlassik]

And thank you so much for your detailed feedback and appreciation!

[@fatimaestinzo6139]

​@@WDRKlassik this is sweet. ☺️

[@bobiggy1162]

Fantastic! My wife and I truly enjoyed this! My wife has been playing piano since 3&1/2 years old. Her mother began teaching her and Stella G. Brimo taught her along the way into Conservatory! She’s Awesome! We loved this from Wayne Marshall and his orchestra! Again, thank you all so much!🎹🎼😊👍🩷

[@fabiusgraco5296]

Essa música é cara dos Estados Unidos da América e toda sua intrigante genealidade. Adoro G. Gershwin.

[@lindacox3062]

Besides Gershwin great musical piece. Wow, the audio is great on my computer. Thanks.

[@WDRKlassik]

You're welcome! We're glad that you like it 🤗

[@adamdacevedo]

BRAVO…!

[@kellycoleman715]

Extraordinary interpretation/improvisation. Bravo! 👏🏻👊🏼

[@transam7091]

Wie das Remake eines klassischen Film. Das kann nur schief gehen. Klingt für mich wie James Last auf Speed.

[@sharigraves6385]

Magnificent Rendition 💙

[@WDRKlassik]

Thank you! 🤗

[@sharigraves6385]

100th Anniversary of Rhapsody in Blue

[@ruexcited2WholeHearted]

W O W

[@Dylonely42]

That’s version is very different than how I usually listen to. Good tho !

[@WilfriedBerk]

3:03 Yulia D. on sax-alto/ 4:50 changing from bassclar to clarinet

[@Ateismopensante]

Sound like to 1.25x speed

[@HonestCoach-us1ed]

Seems just a tad bit rushed, bravo ! Clarinetist ❤️❤️

[@lawrencewhyte1554]

Why is there photos of people ?

[@WDRKlassik]

Hi, @lawrencewhyte1554! This was during the farewell concert of Wayne Marshall as principal conductor of the orchestra. As a surprise for Wayne, there were photos of both him and of the musicians doing "Wayne-like" things spread around the stage.

[@lawrencewhyte1554]

@@WDRKlassik very nice

[@hannslunninger416]

Schade, dass vor lauter Improvisation der notierte virtuose Repetitionsteil ausgelassen wurde. Das scheint mir in der Fassung von Makoto Ozone überzeugender gelungen: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hmjPeK2mm9uijc0 - Improvisatorische Erweiterung, aber unter würdigender Berücksichtigung des Originals.

2:52 wenn der Dirigent davonrennt und musikalisch nur noch mexikanischer Berufsverkehr bei rauskommt :D

[@jerrythemouse28]

At United, we're connecting people. Uniting the world and doing it safely. From all of us, thank you and enjoy your flight!

[@bryangl1]

This item deleted

[@aarondyer.pianist]

His first improv caught me off guard but it's beautiful playing. I can understand, though, if you think any momentum was lost. Nevertheless, it is about jazz, and jazz is about improvisation, and he clearly was riffing on the themes. I found it a breath of fresh air.

[@bryangl1]

Item deleted on the grounds that my name was plastered too widely here, and my opinion seems to vary too widely.

[@aarondyer.pianist]

@@bryangl1 The Ravel anecdote sounds realistic. I think it was Nadia Boulanger who turned Astor Piazzola away from the kind of classical approach he thought he should take to pursue tango, which was most like himself. Thank goodness for that. Anyway, I know what you're saying. But rather than reenact Gershwin's struggle for legitimacy, perhaps there is also a tribute to his greatness by showing that there is room for a truly improvisational approach to these cadenzas. I'm not trashing what you're saying, though. I totally get it.

[@bryangl1]

@@aarondyer.pianist Hi Aaron, I just edited this, and you are now reading my revised opinion.

[@TheBaritoneCrooner]

@Aaron Dyer You’ve obviously not heard the Denis Matsuev version with orchestra and jazz trio. It’s MUCH more indulgent! They have THREE extended trio sections within the framework of the original piece. Frankly, I’m amazed the Russian audiences they played for enjoyed or understood the decidedly American jazz interspersed with Gershwin’s original piece.

[@liliblumm]

Malísimo el realizador o editor del vídeo!! No enfoca a los músicos en sus solos.