George Gershwin’s delirious foxtrot, Sweet and Lowdown, was written for the 1925 musical, Tip-Toes. With lyrics by Ira Gershwin, the farcical comedy centers around a three-member vaudeville act which, through duplicity, attempts to snare a wealthy millionaire. The melody exemplifies the high-flying euphoria of the Roaring Twenties, with jazz and blues harmonies and exuberant, tumbling rhythms.
George Gershwin’s 1926 performance is preserved on piano roll:
The song, That Certain Feeling, was also written for Tip-Toes. It’s a thrilling and virtuosic rollercoaster ride filled with subtle harmonic surprises:
Recordings
Gershwin: Sweet and Lowdown, George Gershwin Amazon
