Peter Friedman

Sibelius - String Quartet Op.56 and Mozart - Piano Concerto No.14, K.449

Leave aside (for the sake of discussion) Porgy and Bess as an opera, and Rhapsody in Blue. Just consider the long list of GAS tunes by Gershwin. It includes, to my ears, quite a number of damn fine pieces. Not sure why we have to diss Gershwin just because some prefer Arlen, Porter, Kern, etc. I would not want to be without I Got Rhythm, Lady Be Good, Someone to Watch Over Me, and many others. We are fortunate to have the many fine GAS composers which have enriched the jazz world for a long long time. Everyone may have their own view of which one may be their favorite. But if Gershwin is not one's favorite GAS composer - that is a far cry from him being a bad one.

Mendelssohn - String Quartet Op.80 and Dvorak - Piano Trio No.1, Op.21

Jackie McLean with The Great Jazz Trio (Hank Jones, Ron Carter, Tony Williams) - New Wine In Old Bottles

Quartetto Italiano - Mozart - String Quartet K.499 and Schumann - Piano Concerto Op.54

Stu Williamson, Jack Sheldon, Bob Enevoldsen, Don Fagerquist, Marty Paich, Buddy Clark, Mel Lewis

Op.64/3 & Op.64/4