Stan Getz Music

What is going on in the lowlands? This is the second of 2 recordings I have heard which feature great saxophonists in front of a Danish orchestral big band (the other being Ronnie Cuber's "Love For Sale"), and both of them are so cheesey they'd give Wallace & Gromit lactose intolerance. Stan Getz plays with his typical late-period eloquence and assuredness, and occasionally manages to lift the level of this music to acceptable. Most of the time, however, he is bogged down behind a barrage of synthesizers and violins that simply offend the senses. For those Getz completists out there, knock yourself out. Everybody else - run far, far away.

Stan Getz is regarded around the world as one of the greatest tenor saxophone players of all time. His exceptionally smooth playing style earned him the nickname "The Sound," and his influence on the world of jazz and his place in the bossa nova invasion cement him as one of the most prolific saxophonists ever--and certainly make him worthy of the Jazz Moods collection "Stan Getz - Cool."

Lester Young was one of the biggest influences on the Stan Getz sound, and the opening track of this album bears witness to that in "Lester Left Town," recorded originally for a tribute album to Jimmy Rowles. This CD also contains "The Peacocks" from the same recording. These pieces hint at the power the big bands of Getz's youth had on his early career.

All of the Getz sway on the world of Brazilian jazz is represented here by his work with the equally great Joao Gilberto in "Double Rainbow" and "Ligia." For pure listening enjoyment, pay special attention to the lovely bossa nova "Aguas De Marco." All three tracks blend his glorious sax with the smoky vocals of Gilberto. Also very pleasing on this collection, is the inclusion of the Stan Getz sound blended with the superb Tony Bennett from the crooner's 1964 Jazz album. Enjoy both "Out of This World" and "Have You Met Miss Jones." Whether playing Latin jazz or more conventional standards, Getz provides an effortless showcase with his sax for the vocals of his fellow artist.

Great pieces of his instrumentation continue throughout, with lovely covers of "Misty," "Sometime Ago," and finishing with the George Gershwin composition "Who Cares." The closing piece seems to ask the listener the obvious rhetorical question, and the answer is plain: The world cares--Stan Getz is simply cool.

An interesting and varied collection of tenor saxist Stan Getz groups, including the legendary "Four Brothers" recording with Woody Herman's bigband. Other groups include such artists as pianists Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock, trombinist Bob Brookmeyer, vibes player Gary Burton and drummer Elvin Jones, amongst many others.The disc shows off Getz's lyrical and passionate tenor sax which fits very well into a variety of styles, including bigband, bozza nova, duets, ballads and uptempo fusion. Altogether a very good collection which will keep Getz's many fans happy as well as being a good introduction to those folk who apreciate jazz saxophone which has a modern intensity but still is melodic and lyrical.