"Music must reflect the thoughts and aspirations of the people and the time," wrote George Gershwin in the early 1930s. "My people are American. My time is today." The works of this most brilliant of American composers and of his equally extraordinary lyricist brother Ira, were indeed of their people and of their time. But put on a recording today, in 2002, of "Embraceable You", "I Got Rhythm", "Bess, You Is My Woman Now" or most any of the hundreds of songs they wrote together, and you know that they are also much, much more. After all these years, those powerful melodies and wry lyrics are as fresh, inventive, and exuberantly and sassily playful as ever. And they are magnificently resilient in the face of abuse, and responsive to just about any intelligent treatment…from new musical settings and vocal interpretations, to jazz improvisation and swing or blues arrangement. A Gershwin song transcends time as written, transforms beautifully, and still touches our hearts and makes us laugh. This is the thesis – and tribute – of OFAM 2002. Join us!