I’ve been reading Iverson’s work online for some time and he’s an erudite and knowledgeable critic who is also a very good musician. Unlike most, predominantly white, ‘jazz’ critics, historically. On ‘Rhapsody’ I tend to agree: I gave it a listen. haven’t encountered it in some time and it sounds as corny, clunky and ‘Caucasian’ as it ever did. I understand what Gershwin was trying to do but Paul Whiteman wasn’t the man to help achieve it. Duke Ellington hands down on any recording blows this shmaltz away. Gershwin was a great composer in the field of the popular American songbook but for me this was an ambition too far. As for great American composer? Duke. And before ‘Rhapsody’ the inimitable ground shaking brilliance of Charles Ives. Different angle of trajectory but up there with the greats of the 20century explosion of the avant garde in classical music and beyond. Gershwin’s achievements in popular music outweigh his attempts for respectability, for me at least. As recognised within the culture he was trying to emulate in ‘Rhapsody.’ Ella Fitzgerald singing ‘But Not For Me,’ Billy Holiday’s searing version of ‘I Love You, Porgy,’ and the Miles Davis/Gil Evans interpretation of ‘Summertime’ to name a few, celebrate the greatness of Gershwin more successfully. One more time, as Mr Basie would say: for me, at least…