The Great American Songbook refers to the music of Broadway, Hollywood and Tin Pan Alley from the 1920s to the late 1950s, just before the advent of Rock and Roll. Aside from the enduring popularity of this music in its original context, it also became and remains the central repertoire of jazz musicians and represents a level of musical and lyrical sophistication that has yet to be equalled.
There is no definitive list of songs which form part of the Great American Songbook, but you’d be hard pushed to have a concert without including Over the Rainbow, Stormy Weather, Blue Skies, Cheek to Cheek, Puttin' on the Ritz, Stardust, It Don't Mean a Thing, Fascinatin' Rhythm, Somebody Loves Me, The Man I Love, They Can't Take That Away From Me, The Way You Look Tonight, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, The Shadow of your Smile, I Only Have Eyes for You, That Old Black Magic, Come Rain or Come Shine, Night and Day, It's De-Lovely, Begin the Beguine, Just One of Those Things, My Romance, Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered, My Funny Valentine and This Can't Be Love.
The concert features four leading West End soloists plus full symphony orchestra.