Summer Sequence

Growing up in Chicago, Labor Day Weekend signaled the end of summer. The new school year was only a few days away. Where did all of those fantastic long summer days go?

My father told me that Labor Day was the one holiday when he just wanted to stay home and loaf. "I'm a working man," he said, "so I'm entitled." We went to the lakes in Northern Illinois almost every weekend beginning in May, as soon as the weather was warm enough. Dad always did what we wanted. So no one in my family ever complained about my father's wish to take it easy on Labor Day.

He wasn't alone. My buddies' fathers felt just like mine, as did most fathers around the country.

In later years, Labor Day Weekend has become very special to me for another reason.

Summer Sequence

In 1977, I interviewed composer/arranger/pianist Ralph Burns. His soundtrack for New York, New York added a very real dimension to the movie. I also asked him about Summer Sequence.

Burns told me that it was during the last days of summer in 1946 when Woody Herman took off for a few weeks, in effect disbanding his orchestra for a short time. Burns and bassist Chubby Jackson spent some time at Jackson's mother's home on Long Island. Beautiful days and quiet walks along the beach inspired Burns. The result: the first three movements of Summer Sequence. Woody and the band loved the piece, and so did their fans.

In 1947, Stan Getz joined the band, then known as "The Second Herd." Serge Chaloff played baritone, and Zoot Sims, Al Cohn, and Getz player tenor. Jimmy Giuffre scored Four Brothers for this magnificent reed section. The "Four Brothers" reed sound has remained with the Herman band ever since.

Woody asked Burns to write a fourth part for "Summer Sequence" to showcase Getz. Burns wrote "Summer Sequence Part IV" with Getz playing a beautiful solo at the end. Burns transformed that solo into "Early Autumn," which became one of the band's biggest hits, clearly establishing young Getz as one of the most talented musicians in the world of jazz.

Here are two ways for you to hear this beautiful composition:

(1) Click on the title of this entry or click here to visit the "Summer Sequence" Playlist Page.

(2) For those with high-speed DSL, Cable or T1 connections, try the Crescendo Internet Music Player. Click here to find out if Crescendo is right for you. If you like Crescendo and download it, then click here to listen to "Summer Sequence."