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Good Vibrations in Blue

Brian Wilson to put his singular spin on George Gershwin

by
Hadara Graubart
October 09, 2009

In the wild world of ex-Beach Boy Brian Wilson, when he calls an upcoming album “the most spiritual project I’ve ever worked on,” almost anything could spring to mind: Gregorian chants? Rainforest noises? Babies gurgling? In fact, his latest muse is even more surprising: George Gershwin. As part of a two-album deal with Disney, Wilson will release a record based on the composer’s unfinished works as well as covers of standards by both George and Ira, two artists whose work is discussed in the new Nextbook Press title A Fine Romance: Jewish Songwriters, America Songs by David Lehman. Can we put in a vote for a “Brian-ized” (to use Disney’s word) “Mischa, Jascha, Toscha, Sascha”?

Hadara Graubart was formerly a writer and editor for Tablet Magazine.