I am often asked "Why Gershwin?" To me, George Gershwin was the ultimate "cross-over artist" in that he brilliantly composed and performed in many different genres (Classical, Jazz, Broadway, Tin Pan Alley). It was his daring to explore and conquer many different forms of music-making that I have admired and felt resonate with my own artistic personality. I also see George as a master showman and melody inventor who both awed and melted the hearts of people with his flair and flamboyance coupled with melancholy and wistfulness, no matter what type of music he chose to write. His brother Ira painstakingly crafted words and dramas that brought these melodies to life, articulating feelings and ideas with which we can identify. My Love for this renaissance spirit has been the guiding force to follow my heart in the rather unique and twisting road of my career. In this CD, this force led me to not only attempt to create a fresh perspective on these well-known tunes, but also to express my own personal stamp of artistry by communicating the hidden meaning I hear within the melodies, harmonies, rhythms and lyrics of the music of the Gershwin brothers.