Morris, Bolcom Honor Gershwin

Joan Morris and William Bolcom, that regularly treasured duo of American song, have been presenting Gershwin-era programs for decades. In 1998 they have a special reason for turning back to the gems of that period: the George Gershwin centenary. They did so in a most enjoyable visit Saturday night to the welcoming environment of the Alex Theatre in Glendale.

Mezzo-soprano Morris and pianist (and prizewinning composer) Bolcom know their way around all this material. They know where the bodies are buried, who did what to whom and most of the forgotten musical jewels still waiting to become well-known.

They use their knowledge too, and with great taste and apparent spontaneity. This program had glimpses of the familiar, the esoteric, the forgotten and the nostalgic. All these had to make one happy.

Most touching were those moments one might have been waiting for: the recollection of the unforgotten Mabel Mercer in the Gershwins’ “Isn’t It a Pity”; a perfectly straightforward rendition of “Someone to Watch Over Me”; a revival of the Jerome Kern (with lyricist Ira G.) “Long Ago (and Far Away).” With an undistinctive but effective voice and a most semaphoric stage manner, Morris still brought out the best in these hallmarks of American song.

Morris and Bolcom avoided the predictable or banal too in presenting three Vincent Youmans songs--Youmans was also born in 1898--”Great Day,” Time on My Hands” and “Flying Down to Rio.” They also revived practically neglected items we remember from their 1986 appearance at the Ambassador Auditorium, the charming Gershwin songs “The Lorelei” and “Just Another Rhumba.”

Ostensibly to cover Morris’ costume change, pianist Bolcom began the second half of the evening with three excerpts from Gershwin’s Songbook of 1933: “Swanee,” “That Certain Feeling” and “I Got Rhythm.” Bolcom’s fingers are as fast as his mind; too bad he didn’t give us time to savor the details.