Multiple award-winning pianist Meral Guneyman recently teamed up with the Y’s own legendary Dick Hyman for an album entitled Playful Virtuosity. They also teamed up for a concert here at the Y and All About Jazz has enthusiastic words for both:

Pianist Meral Guneyman appeared to be slightly nervous when she took the stage recently at the 92nd Street Y’s concert “Piano Players: New York Mix.” But after a glowing introduction from the show’s artistic director Dick Hyman, she launched into a powerful solo version of “The Clothed Woman,” one of several Ellington classics she played that evening with strong emotion and arresting dexterity. Later Hyman sat at another piano and they reprised his challenging arrangement of “Solitude,” skillfully filling in each other’s spaces and ending with a touching flourish.

Guneyman’s discovery of some Gershwin tunes arranged by Earl Wild was a driving force behind Playful Virtuosity, a fine collection of duo piano between her and Hyman. With Guneyman’s impressive symphonic resume and the classical elements present in Wild’s arrangements, it’s easy to see why she would embrace them so heartily. Guneyman’s undulating arpeggios and cascading symphonic touches enhance such songs as “Embraceable You” and “The Man I Love,” the latter of which recalls Rhapsody in Blue. Guneyman’s range, however, is not confined to the recital hall. On her tour de force rendition of “I Got Rhythm,” she boogie-woogies like the house player at a juke joint. At the Y concert she weaved the Wild and Hyman arrangements of “Rhythm” together brilliantly and played like a maenad, stamping her foot to keep time and giving the ivories a melodic forearm.

As an Amazon customer review of the disc put it, “Listening to these two musicians embellish on Gershwin standards would make an atheist believe in God.”

Believing and non-believing jazz fans alike should know that subscriptions for this summer’s Jazz in July festival featuring Bill Charlap, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, the songs of Leonard Bernstein and more are now on sale. Single tickets go on sale April 17.

Previously: Gershwin Classic: Rhapsody in Blue