ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, March 24, 1996 TAG: 9603250136
SECTION: BOOKS PAGE: F-4 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: BOOK REVIEW
SOURCE: Reviewed by ROBERT ALOTTA
NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT: My Life in Rhythm and Rhyme. By Michael Feinstein. Hyperion. $24.95.
Mention the names George and Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern or any number of American tunesmiths and you've got my attention. In "Nice Work If You Can Get It," Michael Feinstein mentions them all, and, envy of all envies, he either knew them or knew people who did.
When Feinstein was in his 20s, he moved to California, and, as luck had it, Oscar Levant's widow introduced him to Ira Gershwin and suggested that Michael be hired to catalog the lyricist's collection of records, sheet music and memorabilia. Through this job, made in heaven, the young man was able to piece together music and lyrics that had not been heard in decades. He was able to bring to life music of the Gershwins that no one knew existed.
But, even with dream jobs, there are some downers. Ira Gershwin's wife, Frances, was a chameleon who used one person against another. She married Ira, Feinstein intimates, because she couldn't have George. In Ira Gershwin's waning years, Frances was unhappy when he was happy. She delighted in taking from him the little pleasures that Michael provided the old man. At least that's what Feinstein writes.
Though filled with great insights into the world of American music, "Nice Work If You Can Get It" is still an autobiography. Feinstein is the final authority on what is written in this book, and most of the people he writes about are no longer with us and unable to defend themselves. Readers should be warned that victors write the history of wars and lions write autobiographies.
All in all, "Nice Work If You Can Get It" is a chatty look at a world that no longer exists, except in the minds of a few of us and, thankfully, on complete sets of CDs.
By the way, Feinstein's tie-in album for the book, same title, is now available, too.
Robert Alotta is an author-historian who lives in Harrisonburg.
LENGTH: Short : 47 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: George (left) and Ira Gershwin in Hollywood on Aug. 10,by CNB1936.