"Gerstein came to America as a teenager to study jazz piano at Boston's Berklee College of Music, and his affinity with thiw lively repertoire is apparent as soon as he hits the keys ... Each of his notes springs up with a bounce; rhythms are alway hot and crisp. David Robertson's St Louis forces are equally electifying in these live recordings ... King Kong, seen astride the Empire State Building on the CD's cover, looks like he's having a wonderful time"

"Gershwin zwischen Jazz und Klassik, zwischen Ernst und Unterhaltung ist das Thema dieses Konzeptalbums ... Das schönste Stück des Albums ... "Blame it on my youth". Kirill Gerstein ist dabei im Duo mit dem legendären Jazz-Vibraphonisten Gary Burton zu hören. Zwei Musiker in einem intensiven Dialog ... Kirill Gerstein findet ...die richtige Balance zwischen E und U. ... Es ist einfach Musik!"

"Editor's choice: What Gerstein serves up here is living, breathing Gershwin that doesn't shy from improvisation and yet retains all the crystal clarity and architectural cohesion of his interpretations of Liszt and Brahms. The result is sizzlin', sassy and smooth, and Robertson and his St Louis musicians are there every spontaneous step of the way ... Gerstein's music-making is direct from the heart, unsentimental but rich in sentiment ... And if something in the Mozartian grace and elegance of the Concerto's finale doesn't touch your heart, you may want to consult a cardiologist"

"Titled "The Gershwin Moment" this album of George Gershwin works features the outstanding playing of Kirill Gerstein, the Russian/American pianist, all captured in live performance ... Singer Storm Large ... performs "Summertime" with aplomb, making a glorious sound, rich and earthy with marvellous diction. The solo piano works, ideal encore pieces, Earl Wild's "Virtuoso Etudes" after Gershwin and Oscar Levant's "Blame it on my Youth" for piano and vibraphone (played by Gary Burton) are given a captivating bluesy feel by Gerstein which adds to the jazz elements of the writing"

"Including works by Earl Wild and Oscar Levant, the disc gives full rein to Gerstein's jazz talents in all their liquid, apparently effortless variety. The Rhapsody is heard in a live performance - full of fat, moody brass - of the jazz-band arrangement"