4th Of July Music—Lots Of It

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The Rifftides staff devoted a meeting to choosing a piece of music to bring you on this most American of holidays. After what seemed like hours of discussion, we bogged down in disagreement. Feelings may not have been running as high as in the Greek referendum campaign, but failure to reach a compromise had everyone on edge. We had a four-way tie. No one was giving in. Finally, the senior vice president for internal affairs came up with a plan that broke the tension. “Play them all,” she said.

“Wait a minute,” the office boy said. “No one will listen to all of those pieces.”

“Too bad for them,” the Sr. VP said, firmly. “Their loss.” She was persuasive. When the vote came, it was a unanimous decision. So, you get:

Al Cohn with Barry Harris, Sam Jones and Leroy Williams

“Sunday In America” from Ornette Coleman’s Skies Of America with the London Symphony Orchstra under David Measham

Charles Ives’ Decoration Day, Zubin Meta conducting the Los Angeles Philharmonic

And James Cagney in the title number from the 1942 film Yankee Doodle Dandy

Now, you’re ready for that picnic.