Aug 16, 2016
It's summer in New England, so why not some summer themed music for these lazy, hot days? Today is August 16th, the feast day of Saint Roch, the patron saint of Dogs, so why not celebrate the "Dog Days"?
The Romans referred to the dog days as diēs caniculārēs and associated the hot weather with the star Sirius. They considered Sirius to be the "Dog Star" because it is the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major (Large Dog), as well as the brightest star in the night sky. The term "Dog Days" was used earlier by the Greeks in Aristotle's Physics.
The Dog Days originally were the days when Sirius rose just before or at the same time as sunrise, which is no longer true, owing to procession of the equinoxes. The Romans sacrificed a brown dog (Sorry Angus and Hamish, my two miniature dachshunds!) at the beginning of the Dog Days to appease the rage of Sirius, believing that the star was the cause of the hot, sultry weather.
I've done four previous Dog Day postings, Podcast 292, Podcast 225, Podcast 442, and Podcast 492 if you'd like some more summer-themed music. There's a few repeats between these posts, but what the hey. It’s all grooving or relaxing music for soaking in those wonderful warming rays. Winter is just around the corner, and I am gonna grab all the warmth I can. Look for me on my deck with Angus and Hamish - and Nancy - and a cold beverage or two. I’ve been learning a bit of mixology, so I think Frozen Whiskey Smash is the drink of the day.
Podcast 546 features the following uninterrupted hour of music, featuring a few new tunes I've recently received from upcoming or imminent releases:
Rebecca Angel – “Jet Samba”
Paul Desmond – “Wave”
The 3 Cohens – “Beaches”
Holly Cole – “Too Darn Hot”
Lou Donaldson – “Hot Dog”
Kenny Garrett – “Backyard Groove”
Stanley Clarke – “Hot Fun”
The Rippingtons – “Flamingo Beach”
Pieces of a Dream – “Warm Weather”
Kenny Burrell – “Hot Bossa”
Jeff Golub – “On the Beach”
Project Grand Slam – “The Rescue”