Breaking Down Ramsey Lewis' SUMMER BREEZE (1973)

#bass #jazz #analysis #transcription #reaction #paulthompson
Let's dig into one of the most popular Jazz performance videos on YouTube - Ramsey Lewis' incredible interpretation of Seals & Crofts' "Summer Breeze". I'll break down what makes this arrangement so special harmonically and how Cleveland Eaton and Morris Jennings show us how to communicate without a word on a gig while laying down a DEEP GROOVE. I'll also talk about why people seem to love the sound of the bass in this video.

The anatomy of a great song, and the other songs it birthed!

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[tallbass]

Thank you for posting this! Ramsey deserves so much more credit than he gets for his musical contributions. I had the pleasure and honor of playing in his band for 10 years (1990-2000) and it was an amazing time of learning, growth and experimentation. Ramsey did many versions of popular songs including this version of People Make the World Go Round which he also recorded with the trio years earlier:


Great job on the channel!

[Mariodupree]

Cleve Eaton lived right here in Birmingham, Alabama for many years prior to his passing. I’ve seen him perform several times here in town. The one time he heard me performing, he came up after the set and complimented me on my bass playing… You could have knocked me over with a feather! 😲🤯 Glad I didn’t see him before hand. I would have been a bundle of nerves! Rest well Sir!

[Andronicus]

This channel never lets you down, THE best bass and groove focused YouTube channel!

[robgutkowski]

I'd hjeard the Isley Brothers version, but I'd never heard this one, solid groove!

[awesumpowerz]

This bassist is awesome ... So funky and clear ... Having a lot of fun holding down the groove ...

[pedrobitt_]

One of the most magnificent bass tones I've ever heard in my life

[samsharp]

“Ninety-five point five… Jazzzz!!”
Thank you Ramsey for the tunes on my 3/12 hour decades-long commute to and from Chicago.

[BlackPoindexter]

Love me some Ramsey Lewis. I remember carrying my Boom Box and blasting Ramsey and others while waiting for the bus on my way home from school. And I had that shirt back in the day except in green! For real! One of my favorite of all time.🤣🤣🤣

[bustabass]

Ramsey Lewis defined the Chicago jazz sound from the early 60s, by taking popular hits and literally "Funkin"' 'em up. His blend of gospel and blues licks on the acoustic and later the Fender Rhodes is legendary. The double bass in all of his work is a distinctive, and prominent voice. We lost a giant when his hands went silent.

[txikitofandango]

I used to listen to Ramsey's radio show as a kid. He was huge in getting me into jazz listening and even performing

[mistersample]

Bass players can relate to that same face of Cleveland Eaton when the sound st perfect... This was a fun breakdown and a good reminder to add this version to my set. I will need to transcribe this version to absorb the bass.

[astropo]

For anyone not up on Ramsey Lewis trio, amazing consistency in quality of music and recordings from wade in the water through sun goddess. The cadet albums had extra hard drums. Another recording similar to this is slippin into darkness.

[jamesboddington]

As a bass player I can't believe I hadn't heard of Cleveland Eaton before. That's some funkiest phattest sounding double bass I've heard right up in the mix where it belongs

[Armakk]

Love this so much. That bass is dancing... and the broken triplet run at 5:23 reminds me so much of the break in the solo of Rush's Closer To The Heart...!

[wolfgangsaller]

Awesome trio! This version reminds me a bit of Billy Cobham´s Red Baron! Cleveland is so groovy just like Leland on Spectrum! Almost the same time/Year! The Golden Age of good live music on German TV! Thank you, Paul!!!

[fanbladeinstruments]

About 6 months ago youtube recommended that video to me and It's effect was immediate. After 25 years playing exclusively bass guitar I bought a double bass and enrolled in lessons. I did a deep dive on Cleveland Eaton too, his solo work and his work with Count Basie. This video though...that groove...that tone...THAT TONE!!

[johnhowardnardine]

Another amazing insight into a (for me) hidden gem. What a heavy cover of this song! Now summer can come.

[nuckelanmainsack]

Musik Laden was a obscure German music show tho. From Stevie wonder’s beautiful performances of Living for the city and superstition and the German audience reacting like superficial trees, or the disrespect directed towards black music on the liner notes of their music showcase LP… This video is probably the best that came out of German television since probably forever.

[room]

So great! I have loved this song since I was a kid but I never knew Ramsey Lewis did a version of it. (I have also dug Ramsey Lewis since I was a kid, but I only knew his tune "The In Crowd, " which was on the same K-Tel collection as "Summer Breeze." My parents rarely listened to that record but I nearly wore it out!) Great to hear the subtle differences here, and the amazing band interplay.

[iriexela]

Great version. Love George Benson and Al Jarreau's version, as well.