Rhythm is one of those words I cannot spell; another is subpoena. I wonder if Ira Gershwin had the same problem. It’s a subject I find endlessly fascinating. Why? I’ll never know.

George and Ira Gershwin wrote Fascinating Rhythm in 1924 for their smash hit musical Lady Be Good, which is another swell-n-swinging song.

Fascinating Rhythm has been recorded nearly 300 times according to the bible of the Friday Cocktail Hour, SecondHandSongs.com. You didn’t think I did this without help, did you?

We begin with the Velvet Fog with the Marty Paich Dek-tette:

Next up, Ella Fitzgerald and her fascinating friend Nelson Riddle:

Morgana King is best known for playing Mama Corleone in the Godfather movies. She was also a helluva jazz chanteuse; another word I can’t spell without a spell checker.

Sarah Vaughan goes Latin with this fascinating interpretation of the Gershwin tune:

Finally, Antony Benedetto and the Divine Diana Krall:

What would a Friday Cocktail Hour be without a jazz instrumental version of the week’s song? This time, Cal Tjader, Stephane Grappelli, and Oscar Peterson.

Have I mentioned lately how much I love Oscar Peterson? It could even be described as a fascination.

That’s it for this week. Pour yourself a shot and toast the Gershwin brothers. It’s what Bogie, Betty, and Frank would want. Never argue with them.