Summertime ... And the Livin' is Easy

A jazz music staple, George Gershwin's Summertime from the 1935 opera Porgy and Bess is one of the most remade songs in music history. There are over 2600 known covers with new renditions being recorded each year. It's believed that Gershwin tried to base Summertime on a Ukrainian lullaby, Oi Khodyt Son Kolo Vikon (A Dream Passes By The Windows). In 1933, He composed to include his own spiritual sound in the style of African American folk music of that period.



Here's a perfect example of how a new sound can totally change a song. This version is done by Kenny Sara and the Sounds of New Orleans. In this song, the saxophone is the highlighted instrument, which gives the tune a smooth sound. This version is definitely my favorite, but that's mainly because I am so in love with the sound of the saxophone. Enjoy! :D