Béla Fleck - Rhapsody in Blue

https://wpln.org/post/as-rhapsody-in-blue-turns-100-this-american-music-classic-remind-us-to-experiment-boldly/

Gershwin had forgotten he was supposed to write a concerto until just two weeks before, when he saw the concert’s ad in The New York Tribune. He had been busy working on his first musical, and had to move quickly. So the piece itself was still half-baked.

The iconic opening clarinet glissando was only done as a joke during the dress rehearsal. Gershwin had not yet actually even written down the solo piano part. He made it up live in the concert.

Happy birthday, Rhapsody in Blue!

I had not heard the Bela Fleck version before, I hope sometime soon there's a good recording of his version with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra; I wasn't able to find one.