The title of this CD is no joke, shortly before a concert was to begin,
Lee Konitz announced to pianist
Franco D'Andrea and a few friends that they would play "12
Gershwin songs...in 12 different keys." Not that they had everything worked out ahead of time; they took requests and started with "The Man I Love" in A and worked their way up the keyboard a half-step at a time. Since
Konitz didn't know all the pieces equally well, there are some challenging moments, when he wanders away from the predetermined key, or in one case, during "Someone to Watch Over Me," accidentally segues into
Duke Ellington's "In a Sentimental Mood." Obviously,
Konitz had a harder time transposing the alto sax into keys other than those typically utilized for these songs than his pianist partner, but both men do an outstanding job in front of a live audience without benefit of editing or second takes in fulfilling their mission. Also added as a postscript is a brief
Gershwin medley from a concert a few days earlier. Recommended.