Porgy and Bess

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

Porgy and Bess · Porgy And Bess, subtitled Swingin' Impressions, contains interpretations of music from George Gershwin's opera. The pianist Hank Jones recorded the album in 1958 for Capitol. He is accompanied by the guitarist Kenny Burrell, the bassist Milt Hinton and his brother Elvin Jones on drums and percussion. All the pieces come from the opera, from Summertime to I Ain't Got No Shame.

The reviews were divided. AllMusic gave three stars. On All About Jazz, Franz Matzner noticed the almost minimalist piano playing and Elvin's light touch, which result in a modest, intimate production. In JazzTimes, Thomas Conrad was less enthusiastic: according to him, the renditions of Summertime and It Ain't Necessarily So offer no important insights, although he calls them stylised and impeccable.

Listening

Track list

1. 1Summertime2:32Apple Music ↗
2. 2There's a Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon For New York2:09Apple Music ↗
3. 3My Man's Gone Now3:41Apple Music ↗
4. 4A Woman Is a Sometime Thing2:38Apple Music ↗
5. 5Bess, You Is My Woman2:43Apple Music ↗
6. 6It Ain't Necessarily So3:22Apple Music ↗
7. 7I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'2:27Apple Music ↗
8. 8Oh, I Can't Sit Down4:02Apple Music ↗
9. 9Bess, Oh Where's My Bess3:25Apple Music ↗
10. 10I Ain't Got No Shame2:15Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗