Aaah, Summer. Long days, watermelon and fresh corn, grilling out, and lots and lots of brilliant sunshine. There’s a good reason that people love this time of year. And nothing sums up the feeling of Summer better than this song.
Roy Ayers is a jazz vibraphonist, who started out with Herbie Mann but became a pioneer of acid jazz, and ended up being one of the most sampled artists in the rap genre. I first heard this song in the movie, “Straight Outta Compton.” The scene where Dr. Dre is introduced shows him listening to this tune, just grooving on the melody and the piano flourishes. I don’t know how I missed out on Roy Ayers before then, but I’m grateful to Dr. Dre for the introduction.
At any rate, this tune is just one groovy wet kiss to hanging out in the sunshine. It’s kinda rainy here in Chicago today, but it’s the first Friday in Summer, so a little funky sunshine is just what the doctor ordered.
Just like Roy Ayers himself says,”I like that happy feeling all of the time, so that ingredient is still there. I try to generate that because it’s the natural way I am.”