Wayne Marshall is famous throughout the world both for his improvisations and for his interpretations of the composition of Gershwin and Bernstein. Here he brings these two talents together, producing spellbinding improvisations on much-loved themes from the work of these master composers. Rhapsody in Blue by Gerswhin, and West Side Story, Candide and Wonderful Town are all given a new lease of life as symphonic improvisations for the organ. Also included is an improvisation on the song Funny People by Jule Styne.

Wayne Marshall himself writes: "The music of Gershwin and Bernstein has always been well represented in the jazz world. Both composers understood jazz but both were also classically trained. l have always wanted to represent them on the organ and to show that this most diverse of all instruments can create another dimension outside the more traditional routes of classical music. lmprovisation for me means freedom and spontaneity yet at the same time creating an unusual but convincing sound world. The American MGM musical genre is celebrated here. l love the film Funny Girl which features Barbra Streisand in the title role. ln it she sings the song People which was written by Jule Styne. The film arrangement is one of the best ever, so l hope you enjoy my improvisation based on one of the best songs of all time."

Marshall performs on the 83-stop Schuke organ of the Philharmonie Luxembourg, an instrument designed in consultation with Daniel Roth that brings together the best elements of the concert hall organ with the principles of traditional French and German organbuilding.

“vivacious ... auspicious ... intense ... euphoric ... ebullient ... effervescent ... enchantingly poetic ... delightful.” ***** Choir and Organ Magazine