Summertime (Gershwin) cover with Edith Zdunich- vocals and Mark Chang- piano

Recorded Jan. 29, 2009 in Davis, CA.

Edith Zdunich sings "Summertime" with Mark Chang on electric piano (Yamaha CP70B). Direct mixdown recording process.

LYRICS:
Summertime,
And the livin' is easy
Fish are jumpin'
And the cotton is high

Your daddy's rich
And your mamma's good lookin'
So hush little baby
Don't you cry

One of these mornings
You're going to rise up singing
Then you'll spread your wings
And you'll fly to the sky

But till that morning
There's a'nothing can harm you
With daddy and mamma standing by

Summertime,
And the livin' is easy
Fish are jumpin'
And the cotton is high

Your daddy's rich
And your mamma's good lookin'
So hush little baby
Don't you cry

Edith and I used to experiment with music back in the mid-1990's, sometimes live on the air over a pirate FM radio station I used to operate several hours each night. Those were more innocent and hopeful times for both of us. Edith and I went our separate ways and lost touch with each other. Finally, after an 11 year respite from singing, Edith is back in town and here she is sounding rather charming performing this gentle, delicate version of "Summertime" with me.
-Mark W. Chang

"Summertime" is the name of an aria composed by George Gershwin for the 1935 opera Porgy and Bess. The lyrics are by DuBose and Dorothy Heyward and Ira Gershwin. The song soon became a popular jazz standard.

Gershwin is said to have based this song on a Ukrainian lullaby, Oi Khodyt Son Kolo Vikon (A Dream Passes By The Windows), which he heard in a New York City performance by Oleksander Koshetzs Ukrainian National Chorus.

Gershwin began composing the song in December 1933, attempting to create his own spiritual in the style of the African American folk music of the period. It is sung multiple times throughout Porgy and Bess, first by Clara in Act I as a lullaby and soon after as counterpoint to the craps game scene, in Act II in a reprise by Clara, and in Act III by Bess, singing to Clara's baby.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• summertime
• summer
• time
• george
• gershwin
• blues
• jazz
• music
• piano
• vocals
• singing
• karaoke
• yamaha
• cp70
• soprano
• alto
• contra
• Porgy
• Bess

[timkillzu]

the voice of an angel!

[sk1nnycowboy]

Agreed. She really strikes a chord deep down - that voice could melt stone.

[TheFrankmcr]

mejor voz tiene taylor hanson(from hanson)

[GrupScolarLovrin]

Extraordinary! A beautiful voice!

[activefront]

Simply Beautiful.

[bokkyboy]

MORE MORE MORE MORE PLEASE

[fiddleshe]

Wow! The two of you are just amazing together. I would have to agree with those who said it is both spine chilling and heavenly. How that is possible, I am not sure. Saving to my favorites and sharing with more than a few friends.

[WhiteFalconus]

Whoa when she started singing it sent shivers down my spine, what a cool voice!

[glashauskg]

What shall we say - soooo treasured

Arthur Klemt from Europe, Bavaria.

[danslatente]

Hopelessly in love with the voice

[mjvirtue]

This is the best version of Summertime on Youtube. It is better than the full scale orchestras. I can hear fealing in yours. You aren't just belting it Opera-style, which is one of the strong suits of your performance.