George Gershwin

I know, I'm surrendering all my principles--make room for Rhapsody in Blue and soon Schubert's Trout or something will weasel into the anticanon. Actually, I've liked Trout both times I've played it--and not only that, remember liking it, which is more than I can say of any Mozart I've ever enjoyed, if indeed I have. But unlike Rhapsody in Blue, it doesn't have the B-word in its title or the B-notes in its tune--or the tricky little "Sweet and Lowdown" to lead off, or "Swanee" to arouse one's blackface anxieties. And it doesn't have the composer in higher fi than any other '20s recording technique permitted. (Grade: A-)