Michael Feinstein honors Gershwin legacy at Strathmore Gala

Pianist and singer Michael Feinstein, who has been dubbed the ambassador of the Great American Songbook, is unquestionably at the top of the list of great interpreters of American standards. This fact alone would give him credibility in presenting a show completely dedicated to the works of George and Ira Gershwin, as he will be doing live in concert at Strathmore’s Spring Gala on Saturday night.

But Feinstein has an even greater connection to these men of music — in 1977, he had the distinct pleasure of working directly with lyricist Ira Gershwin as his assistant. He did that for six years, and a perk of the association was access to numerous unpublished songs written by the team of brothers. This, for him, was heaven.