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The Sound of Summer Running
Studio album by Marc Johnson
Released	February 24, 1998 (1998-02-24)
Recorded	1997
Studio	Avatar, New York City
Genre	Jazz
Length	53:14
Label	Verve
Producer	Lee Townsend
Marc Johnson chronology
Magic Labyrinth (1995) The Sound of Summer Running (1998) If Trees Could Fly (1998)

The Sound of Summer Running is a 1998 studio album by jazz bassist Marc Johnson released by Verve Records. It features an all-star Quartet with guitarists Pat Metheny and Bill Frisell, and John Zorn's frequent drummer Joey Baron. The title was borrowed from a story by Ray Bradbury.

Reception

Scott Yanow, writing for Allmusic, awarded the album three stars out of five, stating:

This date is a surprisingly mellow and melodic affair, particularly when one considers the personnel (bassist Marc Johnson, both Bill Frisell and Pat Metheny on guitars and drummer Joey Baron). Much of the music is comprised of unclassifiable, folkish melodies filled with lyrical guitar solos. Frisell is quite restrained throughout (adding a country feel to many of the songs) and Metheny is less distinctive than usual, alternating between his electric and acoustic guitars, as well as his 42-string Pikasso guitar. The quartet performs seven Johnson originals (most memorable is "Union Pacific"), two by Frisell and one from Metheny. The overall results are pleasing and relaxed music that falls a little bit short of being the classic date one might expect; more fire was needed.

JazzTimes critic Bill Milkowski, in his review of the album wrote: "... Johnson’s Verve debut is bound to send ripples of excitement through the guitar community. “Put Frisell with just about anybody and you’re going to create something exciting,” says Johnson... Ross Porter in his book The Essential Jazz Recordings: 101 CDs praised Johnson's performance, commenting, "On The Sound of Summer Running Marc Johnson has created both a showcase for his own and others' virtuosity. He plays with warmth and poignancy, and like all great bass players knows his place, never getting in the way. Johnson has made a great record, one that is very satysfying to listen to." The Buffalo News review by Jeff Simon noted, "Irresistible -- a sunbath of a disc by the great bassist that somehow managed to pair guitarists Bill Frisell and Pat Metheny in music virtually impossible to dislike... It's the sort of jazz that has hit potential without compromising all integrity. Summery charm, after all, is the whole point of the disc."

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
The Buffalo News
Entertainment Weekly	B−
The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD
Tom Hull	A−
The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz

Track listing

Personnel

• Marc Johnson – double bass
• Bill Frisell – electric and acoustic guitars
• Pat Metheny – electric and acoustic guitars, 42-string Pikasso guitar
• Joey Baron – drums, tambourine

Production

• Joe Ferla – engineer
• Greg Calbi – mastering
• Lee Townsend – producer

Notes

• Recorded at Avatar Studios, New York City
• Mixed at Sony Music Studios, New York City
• Mastered at Masterdisk, New York City

References

1. Payne, Douglas (1998-04-01). "Marc Johnson: The Sound of Summer Running Review". All About Jazz. Retrieved 2013-10-11.
2. "Marc Johnson – The Sound of Summer Running". Discogs. discogs.com. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
3. ^ Deffaa, Chip (March 6, 1998). "The Sound of Summer Running". Entertainment Weekly. ew.com. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
4. Graybow, Steve (21 March 1998). "Jazz Blue Notes". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.: 48. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
5. Milkowski, Bill (April 1998). "Marc Johnson's Dream Teams". JazzTimes. Retrieved 2015-12-18.
6. Porter, Ross (2008). The Essential Jazz Recordings: 101 CDs. McClelland & Stewart. ISBN 978-1-55199-247-1. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
7. ^ Simon, Jeff (20 February 1998). "IN BRIEF". The Buffalo News. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
8. Yanow, Scott. "Marc Johnson: The Sound of Summer Running". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2015-12-18.
9. Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2004). The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD. Penguin. p. 871. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
10. "Tom Hull: Grade List: Marc Johnson". Tom Hull. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
11. Larkin, Colin (1999). The Virgin encyclopedia of jazz. Virgin. Retrieved 13 April 2019.

• 1997 albums
• Verve Records albums
• Marc Johnson (musician) albums