It’s summertime and the living is easy…
As I wrote earlier, I’d be more comfortable in a cold tundra wind than in the steamy temperatures that are moving through the east now, a heat that brings to mind the hazy days of summertime on the islands near Charlestown, South Carolina that George Gershwin brought to life in his great opera, Porgy and Bess. But while I’m not a fan, I f ind things in it that I can enjoy. A cool drink. The feel of coolness from a hardwood floor on a bare foot. The quietness it brings as the animals in the forest around me hunker down, almost like they do in the coldest weather.
I’m in the final days of prepping for another show, this my tenth annual at the West End Gallery, and the heat mixed with the pressure to get my work done conspire to make me a bit listless as far as criticaland creative thinking is concerned. So, I focus on the cool air of morning, trying to absorb as much as possible before the real heat descends and I put on some Gershwin to fit the mood.
Here’s a great folky version of Summertime from the great Doc Watson, the legendary blind folk guitarist. He’s accompanied here by his late son, Merle. It is one of the most evocative songs ever written and this version adds Doc’s own touch. Enjoy and stay cool…
Redtree Times 