Although the story is likely apocryphal, Gershwin is said to have been attracted by Maurice Ravel's unusual chords, and Gershwin went on his first trip to Paris in 1926 ready to study with Ravel.
ɔːlðˈoʊ ðə stˈoːɹi ɪz lˈaɪkli ɐpˈɑːkɹɪfəl, dʒˈɜːʃwɪn ɪz sˈɛd tə hɐvbɪn ɐtɹˈæktᵻd baɪ mˈɔːɹɪs ɹˈævəlz ʌnjˈuːʒuːəl kˈɔːɹdz, ænd dʒˈɜːʃwɪn wɛnt ˌɔn hɪz fˈɜːst tɹˈɪp tə pˈæɹɪs ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd twˈɛnti sˈɪks ɹˈɛdi tə stˈʌdi wɪð ɹˈævəl.