Jazzwax Summer Clip

The July 4th weekend is the summer personified, especially when the weather cooperates. The smell of burgers and corn on a charcoal grill, the sound of kids laughing and splashing, and a nostalgic tugging for the music of our youth are all part of the classic scene.

Case in point: For nine weeks in the spring of 1960, Theme From a Summer Place was No. 1 on Billboard's Top Pop Singles chart. The Beatles' Hey Jude and Elvis' All Shook Up also have the distinction of hanging in at the top spot for nine weeks. But to me, no other song sounds more like summer and the July 4th weekend than the innocent Percy Faith instrumental. And no pop summer song is more addictive.

So, without further ado, sit back, put your feet up and dig this. By the way, I asked pianist Dick Hyman about the clip. He said none of the players are New York studio musicians and that's not him at the celeste toward the end. Dick speculates that the clip is from a Canadian TV show from 1960...