The Latin Jazz Corner - Summertime
Latin Jazz Video Fix: Four Versions Of Summertime
There’s nothing better than a song that captures the spirit of the moment, and there’s not many songs that do that better than Gershwin’s “Summertime.” We can all relate to easy livin’ during the warmest months of the year when many of us vacation and have some fun with our loved ones. The song has a specific meaning within the context of Porgy And Bess – one that deals with race and society. In its many incarnations though – from operatic show stopper to jazz standard and pop song supreme – “Summertime” has become somewhat of a bluesy anthem for June, July, and August.
We’d be hard pressed to find a jazz musician that hasn’t played “Summertime,” and as a result, it has become firmly entrenched in the Latin Jazz realm. The iconic changes and unforgettable melody often fit nicely over a cha cha cha rhythm, but that’s not quite the end of the story. There have been uptempo son montuno versions, additional lyrics in Spanish, mash-ups with other songs, salsafication, and much, much more. Part of the beauty of “Summertime” lies in the flexible and forgiving nature of the song; as a result, it has blended wonderfully with the cultural norms of Latin Jazz over the years.
Since I spend my a majority of my time as an educator, the idea of “Summertime” has special meaning for me, and this week’s Latin Jazz Video Fix is going to celebrate that idea with several live interpretations of this standard. In the first video, Ray Barretto, mixes “Summertime” with a guajira, salsa lyrics, and some great jazz soloing. The next clip is a solo version of the standard with a Latin Jazz flare from pianist Samuel Quinto. After some television announcing, percussionist Giovanni Hidalgo tears into a furious version of the song with mind boggling soloing from some special guests. The last clip shows a laid back take on the song that captures the easy livin’ idea, performed by The Roberto Ocasio Latin Jazz Project. There’s enough spirit here to kick the season into high gear right away – enjoy!
See the complete post here: The Latin Jazz Corner
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www.samuelquinto.com | All About Jazz — Editor | Royal Society of Arts — UK | PFMC, NFMC — USA/United Nations | International Council for Traditional Music — Unesco/Worldwide | American Council of Piano Performers — USA | Honorary Consul ADMIR | Ambassador NOHE | Fritz Dobbert/Kawai Pianist
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About Samuel Quinto:
Samuel Quinto Feitosa, FRSA (born September 5, 1973) is a Brazilian pianist of jazz, pop, gospel, and classical music, as well a conductor, music producer, composer, arranger, educator, and writer who has lived in Portugal since 2004. Quinto grew up in Salvador, where he developed his art mainly on piano. He is a His Excellence Honorary Consul by American Diplomatic Mission of International Relations and Ambassador by Noble Order for Human Excellence.
Maestro, Composer, Pianist, Writer and Educator
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