George & Ira Gershwin: The Complete Porgy & Bess auf 2 CDs

An unusual Porgy and Bess, with superb arrangements of the Gershwin’s music and great interpretations of the all stars performers.
This modernized and memorable jazz version of the legendary American Folk opera was recorded in New York and Los Angeles in 1956. Also contains as bonus tracks the original version of a not very well known work by the great musician Mel Tormé --the “California Suite,” a type of ambitious mixture for orchestra and voice evoking the sounds of Broadway, vaudeville, and opera.

This composition, described by his author as a “lyrical and musical narrative dedicated to the Golden State” by Tormé, is performed by Tormé himself with Peggy Lee, the Mel-Tones and orchestra conducted by Hal Mooney.

An unbelievable assortment of jazz musicians -- some of the greatest of the day, including: Mel Tormé, Frances Faye, Johnny Hartman, Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra, Betty Roché, Bob Dorough, Frank Rosolino, Joe Derise, Pat Moran Quartet, The Australian Jazz Quintet, The Stan Levy Group, Don Fagerquist Group, Russ Garcia Orchestra . . . (freshsoundrecords. com)