So, here we are in the midst of summer. There are NO holidays to celebrate in August, and the only time to do any physical activity out doors is before 10 o’clock or after 7, when the sun is thinking about setting. As far as songs about August, forget it! A couple obscurities such as “Time For August” by Julie London, “June, July and August” by Freddie “Boom Boom” Cannon and “Cold Wind in August” by Van Morrison. None of them are exactly standards.
It also seems like the jazz clubs are being avoided by major artists this time of the year. They’re either scoring big at festivals in Europe or working on their tans on Jazz Cruises. Very few major albums come out this time of year, and even if they do, how can you have time to listen to them intently when you’re driving the family around on a vacation?
So, what type of music fits in well with the dog days of summer? Here are some hints:
- BOSSA NOVA! Possibly the perfect storm of lyricism, rhythm and the cool breeze of soto voce. Stan
Getz, Joao Gilberto, Romero Lumbabo, Luciana Souza…it all sounds so…summery! - THE BLUES! Nothing like an outdoor blues festival to make you feel like it’s the summer. In LA, we’ve had John Mayall, Albert Lee, Robben Ford and Robert Cray.
What a joy to be like nodding your head with a cold glass of something on a hot muggy night. - Anything at the Hollywood Bowl, Greek Theatre or Ford Theatre. Somehow, no matter what the music is, it always sounds better at an outdoor summer concert. I’ve seen artists in these places that I’d never seen anywhere else: Tony Bennett, Mel Torme, Rosemary Clooney, George
Benson and Tedeschi-Trucks, just to name a few. All of these types of artists revel in the outdoor stage, while others seem made for small clubs. - Hammond B3s. They can be at a Dodger game, a Roller Skating Rink or in some funky dive with either a guitar or tenor sax, but the visceral feel of the keyboards whirling around your ears feels like a fog rolling in at the beach.
SALSA! Rose Rijo! Pancho Sanchez! There are a ton of bands like this in LA, and they make you feel like you’re in a street festival.- Cuban bands. Alumni from Buena Vista Social Club still come around, and Arturo Sandoval will get you on your feet. And smoking a Romeo & Juliet while drinking a
cold Cubano Coffee at a festival is the height of refreshing. - Vintage Frank, Tony, Englebert what’s his dink, Chet, Johnny Hartman, Dino…music that is instantly nostalgic and that you can sing along with either in the shower, by the pool or at the
lake/beach. - DOO WOP. Talking about singing along. It was the last happy music in America. “Blue Moon,” “Crying in the Chapel” “Money Honey” “Heart and Soul”…this stuff was
made for cruising late at night in the summer. And, don’t forget the ultimate sing-along: “Little Darlin'” by The Diamonds! Top down or the windows rolled down while you’re waiting for the movie at the Drive In to begin. - Vintage R&B. Big Joe Turner. The Coasters. Early Ray Charles. Earthy, basic and
fun! - CLASSICAL! Big booming stuff like Beethoven’s 9th, Tchaikovsky, Even John Williams. Something to bring out the
fireworks!