Stan Getz Music

This is one of Getz's best recordings despite it being difficult to find. Gary Burton is amazing and underpins Getz perfectly. The version of Summertime is equal to Miles Davis' famous recording. Getz is at the height of his powers for this period just coming of the Bossa Nova burn out phase in his career. This is as strong of a musical statement as his best early recordings like Getz meets Oscar Peterson, and his finest late recordings like People Time. Get it if you can.

At the height of the Bossa Nova era, "Getz/Gilberto" the second best selling Jazz album of all time behind Miles Davis "Kind of Blue", was riding high. Norm Granz at Verve wanted those bucks from the Golden Egg to keep flowing in. "Getz/Gilberto" and "Jazz Samba" were piling up the coins.

Stan the Man had tired of the limiting nature of Bossa Nova, and being pigeon-holed as a featherweight. Also his affair with Astrud Gilberto had torpedoed her marriage to the shy introverted Joao Gilberto, so it was unlikely the Getz/Gilberto arrangement would bear more fruit.

Getz got a whole new band (of unknowns), and a whole new direction. He was at the height of his powers before the lost 70's and his resurgence in the 80's. He taps the then unknown Gary Burton on vibes and records this masterpiece of melody, harmony and smooth laid back Cool.

Then Granz put the tape on the shelf (not to interfer with Bossa Nova's success) and lost it!!! For 30 some years it is misplaced, to turn up again in the 90's after Getz death.

What we have here is a masterpiece, in my Getz-best list. Getz floats and soars. Burton is all over the vibes to keep up. Lots of gorgeous ballads with smooth buttery tone (listen to "Summertime"). Very romantic. Title track is a standout, as is "Here is that Rainy Day", "Little Girl Blue". Stan degs deep in his soul to play here. This CD is more like his profound late 80's output, like "Anniversary" than anything else I can think of.

Getz did hundreds and hundreds of albums, this ranks with the best.

Highest recommendation. Get it while you can. On my tough grading system this gets an "A" or five stars as representative of the best of Getz work, and an all-time Jazz classic.

Not anxious to be pigeon-holed as a sax man who could only play Samba, Stan Getz recorded this album in the mid 60's after "Getz/Gilberto" at the height of the Bossa Nova craze.

Norv Granz, owner of Verve, put it on the shelf, so as not to distract form Getz Bossa Nova success. The tape got lost for 30 years!

Jazz Standards, Beautiful, lyrical, masterful, spectacularly well recorded. Back up band includes the then unknown Gary Burton on vibes.

Standout hit is Gershwin's "Summertime". This album is emotional, (not cool), very much like Getz 80's Concord recordings. Not much Bebop, no virtuoso shootouts. A lot of Ballads, which Getz does best!

This was recorded right after Stan's initial bossa nova successes, and points to a change in direction for his playing. His tone is as gorgeous as ever, maybe even more so, yet his technique is becoming denser, deeper. The group (besides Stan on tenor there is Gary Burton [vibes] Gene Cherico [b] and Joe Hunt [d]) plays more and more as a single unit, exploring each tune's structure, not so much as four individual musicians, but as a whole. Hunt's drumming has become almost a front-line instrument and is not just there for time-keeping purposes. The highlight for me is LITTLE GIRL BLUE, taken slowly, on which Stan plays the verse. It's a beautiful performance. Also very good are SUMMERTIME, HERE'S THAT RAINY DAY (another lovely ballad), and the title track. This marked a definite step forward in Stan's approach to the music, and it's an interesting and wonderful CD. Check it out.