By George

It's all Gershwin. It's all instrumental. It's all acoustic. In this collection of some of the finest tunes ever written, virtuoso mandolinist Don Stiernberg and stellar guitarist John Carlini show what those instruments can do in the proper hands. Don and John initially set forth George Gershwin's melodies as written, then engage in playful improvisation while being ever respectful of the musical integrity built into the original manuscripts. There renditions are modern, yet with an eye toward a time when Gershwin's inventive chordal excursions were new. In this project Stiernberg and Carlini are reunited with bassist Jim Cox and drummer Phil Gratteau, both of whom are veteran Chicago studio and performance musicians. They often accompany Marian McPartland for her midwest area concerts --- clear evidence of their prowess. Jim and Phil create a groove you could drive a truck through, and they seem to do it effortlessly. The finest musicians on the planet, the best melodies ever written, uncluttered yet sophisticated arrangements, and one of the most creative studio engineers in the business all come together to make "By George" an instant classic.