Tryout, Kurt Weill And Ira Gershwin (1953)/ Weill, Kurt

" "A series of private rehearsal recordings," notes the album cover, and inside are performances by composer Kurt Weill and lyricist Ira Gershwin, demonstrating songs written for two Weill projects of the mid-'40s, the 1943 Broadway musical One Touch of Venus and the 1945 movie musical Where Do We Go from Here? Accompanied by Weill at the piano, Gershwin sings these songs spiritedly in his distinct New York accent, Weill piping in in his high German tenor at points in "The Nina, the Pinta, the Santa Maria." Gershwin's wit and wordplay are on display even on these minor efforts. The songs from One Touch of Venus, with lyrics by Ogden Nash, are much better remembered, particularly "Speak Low" and "That's Him." Weill alone handles this material. Of course, these are not polished, professional performances intended for the public to hear, but they will fascinate fans of show music." (William Ruhlmann)|