Violinist Itzhak Perlman announced a new album, The Way We Were: My American Songbook, set for release Oct. 30 via Green Hill Music. The announcement, made on Perlman’s 81st birthday, marks his first new album in more than a decade. The collection reinterprets American Songbook standards by composers including George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, Stephen Sondheim, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, and Leonard Bernstein, backed by a full orchestra.
The album’s lead single, a new version of Gershwin’s “Summertime” featuring Grammy winner Jon Batiste, is available now on streaming platforms, with an accompanying video also released. The 12-track album also includes guest turns from Josh Groban and a track built around archival vocals from Ella Fitzgerald. It was produced by David Lai, with Or Matias and Natalie Tenenbaum serving as co-producers and arrangers.
Perlman is scheduled to appear on TalkShopLive on Sept. 3 to promote the release. Green Hill Music, part of Sun Label Group under Primary Wave Music, is marking its 30th anniversary this year.
Based on a press release provided to Music Industry Weekly by The Press House.