Estate (Summer)

The italian piano player, singer and composer Bruno Martino wrote the pop song "Estate" (Summer) with text of Bruno Brighetti in 1960. The brasilian singer Joao Gilberto, during a tournée in Italy heard it and decided to include the song in his repertoire and also recorded it in italian. From that moment the song became famous and was played and sung by many important jazz artists.

The title refers to summer, and the lyrics describe a love lost during summer and the bitter memories that come with the season ever since. Only the next winter might cover the memories. The song was originally titled (and the lyric sung) "Odio l'estate" ("I Hate the Summer").

Estate (Summer)

Bruno Martino was born 11th November 1925. His musical career started in 1944, when the young pianist entered the radio symphony orchestra of the roman broadcasting station RAI. At the same time he already performed with local jazz bands.

Bruno Martino

He worked in several european night clubs, above all in Denmark. His orchestra played a mixture of jazz, neapolitan folk-songs and his own compositions, ranking among the most distinguished ball-room orchestras of that time.

Bruno Martino

He became known with the nickname "Principe dei nights" ("prince of the night clubs"). In 1961 was his only appearance at the festival in San Remo with "AAA Adorabile cercasi". Also in the numerous TV shows the image of the "cantante da night club" adhered to him.

Joao Gilberto

But his orchestra continued to be highly esteemed, and among its members were many famous italian musicians, for example Franco Cerri and Oscar Valdambrini. It performed on the important stages of the world, from Monte Carlo to Las Vegas. In his later years Bruno Martino kept performing as a singer from time to time. Bruno Martino died 12th June 2000 at the age of 74 of an heart-attack.

Bruno Martino

“Estate,” is an Italian classic, but it has been sung in English and Spanish as well, and there is even a French version, with remarkably inept lyrics which have nothing at all to do with the original feeling of the composition.

Joao Gilberto sings 'Estate'

Listening to this small piece of perfection, so introspective, evocative and mood-suffused, becomes a meditation – a remembrance of things past. It captures completely the feeling of beautiful summer and lost love, when a season of opulence and brilliance becomes a lingering ghost, and when poetry and music come together as if they were in love with each other.

Bruno Martino

This is a song which demands to be performed in a natural and heart-felt manner. This is a piece of music for which less is always more.

Chet Baker plays 'Estate'

Estate belongs to the few italian compositions, that succeeded in entering the repertoire of jazz musicians from all over the world. It is reputed as one of the most beautiful jazz standards, and it is usually played as a bossa nova or a ballad with a slight latin groove.

Estate

Estate (Bruno Brighetti lyrics)

Sei calda come il bacio che ho perduto
Sei piena di un amore che è passato
Che il cuore mio vorrebbe cancellare

Estate
Il sole che ogni giorno ci scaldava
Che splendidi tramonti dipingeva
Adesso brucia solo con furor

Tornerà un altro inverno
Cadranno mille pètali di rose
La neve coprirà tutte le cose
E forse un po' di pace tornerà

Estate
Che ha dato il suo profumo ad ogni fiore
L' estate che ha creato il nostro amore
Per farmi poi morire di dolor

Estate

Bruno Martino

Estate (Joel E. Siegel lyrics)

You bathe me in the glow of your caresses
You turn my timid no's to eager yesses
You sweep away my sorrow with your sigh

Estate
Oh how your golden sunlight bends the willow
Your blossoms send their perfume to my pillow
Oh who could know you half as well as I

Always feel you near me
In every song the morning breeze composes
In all the tender wonder of the roses
Each time the setting sun smiles on the sea

Estate
And when you sleep beneath a snowy cover
I'll keep you in my heart just like a lover
And wait until you come again to me

Estate

Estate