George Gershwin

Deer Fellow: “Someone To Watch Over Me”

One of the main reasons why jazz is my personal favorite genre is that once you’re familiar with the Great American Songbook, you basically have a loose blueprint for how each tune’ll turn out. Sure, every rendition is different, but even when chord progressions get lost in genre translation, those classic heads still dazzle. And although streaming numbers tend to determine the “best” version for newcomers, there are countless interpretations out there that cater to tastes across the board. One of those comes to us today courtesy of Austin duo Deer Fellow. As Deer Fellow, multi-instrumentalist-vocalists Alyssa Kelly and Matt Salois have amassed an impressive herd of fans. Deer Fellow’s 2021 debut EP Words Unsaid introduced us to the pair’s versatility, purposeful production, and evolving breed of intimate indie-folk-pop. Today, they put a timeless Gershwin standard on a new set of hooves. It’s been nearly a hundred years since George & Ira Gershwin first penned “Someone To Watch Over Me”, but thanks to Deer Fellow’s innovative vision, sparse orchestral harmonies, and spacious acoustic mix, there’s enough proof that this torch song still has plenty of fuel left to burn.

Summertime (6.23.18)

“Summertime” is an aria composed in 1934 by George Gershwin for the 1935 opera Porgy and Bess. In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about what unique lessons we can learn listening to “Summertime” today.

George Gershwin and the Art of America

George Gershwin was a legendary American jazz musician in the 1920s and 30s. In his short life, he was able to establish a style that would continue to influence the way music is composed. In this episode, Rebecca McInroy and Rabbi Neil Blumofe discuss Gerwin’s legacy from his Russian roots, to his background of growing up in New York City in the early 19th century, and working with his brother Ira, while sharing some of his music throughout the examination of his life and career.

George Gershwin (6.22.14)

George Gershwin was an American musician, composer and visionary whose work at the beginning of the 20th century helped to shaped a collective understanding of the American experience. In this installment of Liner Notes Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe explores the life and legacy George Gershwin.