Gershwin's World

In this, his centennial year, George Gershwin is everywhere. But Herbie Hancock's striking tribute on Gershwin's World runs deeper and wider than most, clearly revealing Gershwin's cross-stylistic imprint, from jazz to pop to classical (i.e., the Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in G) — a feat Hancock is familiar with — and adding snippets of Ellingtonia and other seminal jazz references for historical resonance. The guest list includes Stevie Wonder, Joni Mitchell, Kathleen Battle, and Wayne Shorter, but in the end, the real stars are Hancock the great American keyboardist, and the great American songwriter he's toasting. A-