Pianist Frederick Hodges performs the greatest songs of George Gershwin, including such favorites as "Embraceable You," "I Got Rhythm," Love Is Here To Stay," "Porgy and Bess," pluss exciting discoveries from the Gershwin Archives

Best of the Best. I don't usually name a single performer as "the best" in these lists because it's far too subjective and might result in hurt feelings. That being said, how about that Frederick Hodges? His amazing keyboard dexterity is well-known, but his mere presence at an event serves to elevate it to new levels of wit, style, class and professionalism. Frederick was all over the West Coast Ragtime Festival, performing solo, in duets with ADam Swanson and Alex Hassan, with the Crown Syncopators, singing, accompanying other singers, emceeing the Youth Concert, presenting the master class, and accompanying silent movies — all of this pus the ironically arch syntax, the straight über-blonde hair, and dapper wardrobe. Extraordinary.

--Lewis Motisher