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KPLU All Blues host John Kessler has expanded "The Blues Time Machine," which has been a popular segment on his weekend blues shows. The weekly series tracks one great blues song through history - from its earliest recording to its latest and sometimes, with some surprising interpretations. "The Blues Time Machine" airs on KPLU on Fridays at 12:10 p.m. during the "Blue Plate Special," and on All Blues Saturdays and Sundays at 8 and 11 p.m.

Gershwin's 'Summertime' Becomes a Rock Classic

“Summertime” is considered one of George Gershwin’s finest songs. Collaborating with his brother Ira and lyricist DuBoseHeyward, Gershwin composed the piece for his 1935 “folk-opera” Porgy and Bess.

This clip is from the 1959 Samuel Goldwyn film Porgy and Bess, with vocals dubbed by Adele Addison for Dorothy Dandridge’s Bess:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1LAOQKwD54

The song quickly became popular and jazz-standard status followed with notable versions by Louis Armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis and Leontyne Price. In fact it’s of the most “covered” songs in history, and has been recorded over 25,000 times. Billie Holiday recorded one of the most  memorable versions in 1936, and hers was the first to reach a wide audience, ranking #12 on US pop charts.

From a musical point of view, the genius of the song comes from it’s combination of African-American, European and jazz influences. “Summertime” borrows a lot of the form and feel of the spiritual “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child”, which has roots in the African-American culture of the 1800’s. It also bears a striking resemblance to a Ukrainian lullaby that Gershwin was familiar with. Here’s a link to listen to that song: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oi_Khodyt_Son_Kolo_Vikon

Janis Joplin was a rock singer with a deep connection to jazz and blues. Taking inspiration from singers like Bessie Smith and Big Mama Thornton, she created some of the most powerful music of the 1960’s. Her 1968 debut Cheap Thrills, with Big Brother & The Holding Company featured a complete re-invention of the song. Here is a great clip of Janis Joplin performing “Summertime” in Stockholm 1969: 

http://youtu.be/bn5TNqjuHiU

Molly Johnson became one of Canada’s best-known jazz artists after working as a back-up singer for fellow Canadians Jeff Healey and Tom Cochrane. With influences that range from pop, R & B, blues and jazz, her 2002 version of “Summertime” is languid like the original with a more rhythmic approach. This is Molly Johnson from 2008 performing “Summertime”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLsGFDaTnoQ&feature=related

Here are the complete versions of “Summertime”, tracked through time.

billieholiday.mp3
Billie Holiday "Summertime" 1936

janisjoplin.mp3
Janis Joplin "Summertime" 1968

mollyjohnson.mp3
Molly Johnson "Summertime" 2002

John has worked as a professional bassist for 20 years, including a 15 year stint as Musical Director of the Mountain Stage radio program. John has been at KNKX since 1999 where he hosts “All Blues”, is producer of the BirdNote radio program, and co-hosts “Record Bin Roulette”. John is also the recording engineer for KNKX “In-Studio Performances”. Not surprisingly, John's main musical interests are jazz and blues, and he is still performing around Seattle.