Interpretations Stan Getz

AVID Jazz continues with its Four Classic Albums series with a re-mastered 2CD fourth set release from Stan Getz, complete with original artwork, liner notes and personnel details.

"It's a pleasure to be here" says Stan Getz, surveying the Californian landscape from the open-air stage he's performing on. "It's different to the dives I play in." And it clearly inspired this famously uncompromising saxophonist in the performance that's captured on this DVD-Video.The first set is chiefly made up of material by pianist Jim McNeely. who writes with a fine melodic touch, and it sets the great cool saxophonist off into a series of beautifully-shaped improvisations that will repay many viewings and listenings. Stan`s quartet also includes a scintillating rhythm team is bassist Marc Johnson, who had come from working with Bill Evans in the pianist's last trio, and drummer Victor Lewis…

Because Stan Getz was so consistent during his lifetime - very rarely did he record a weak album - one greets a posthumous release like Blue Skies with enthusiasm. Although recorded in January 1982, Blue Skies remained in the can until 1995, four years after the saxman's death from cancer. Joined by pianist Jim McNeely, bassist Marc Johnson, and drummer Billy Hart, Getz is in excellent form on this generally caressing and introspective CD. The only up-tempo offering on Blue Skies is McNeely's cerebral "There We Go"; Getz is quite relaxed on Johnson's dreamy "Antigny" and interpretations of "Blue Skies," "Easy Living," "Spring Is Here," and "How Long Has This Been Going On." True to form, Getz makes the listener marvel at his tone throughout the album; without question, he had one of the sexiest, most gorgeous tones in the history of jazz. It's unfortunate that this excellent material went unreleased for 13 years.

The Stan Getz volume in Verve's Quiet Now series is a stellar collection of ballads from the '50s and '60s when Getz and his bands led jazz polls continually. His bossa material, which is his best known, is represented here by three cuts – and no, "Girl from Ipanema" is not one of them – including "Corcovado." That said, it's his interpretations of standards such as "Little Girl Blue," "It Never Entered My Mind," "Sweet Rain," and "Serenade in Blue" that the great tenorman's true lyrical gift comes into play.

Stan Getz Quintet - Interpretations #2 + Interpretations #1 (1953) {Poll Winners PWR 27280 rel 2011}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 328 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 185 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 206 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1953, 2011 Norgran / Poll Winners Records | PWR 27280
Jazz / Cool / West Coast Jazz / Mainstream Jazz / Saxophone

Digitally remastered two-fer containing a pair of albums from the Jazz great on one CD: Interpretations By the Stan Getz Quintet and Interpretations By the Stan Getz Quintet #2. Both albums (which were 10-inch LPs) were given a 5-star rating in Down Beat magazine. Three additional tracks have also been included which complete all of the master takes recorded by this exact formation of the quintet, with Bob Brookmeyer, John Williams, Teddy Kotick, and Frank Isola.

The Stan Getz Quintet - Interpretations #3 (1955) {2013 Japan Jazz The Best Series 24bit Remaster UCCU-9751}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 211 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 86 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 66 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24bit remastering
© 1953-54, 2013 Norgran Records / Verve / Universal Japan | UCCU-9751
Jazz / Cool / West Coast Jazz / Mainstream Jazz / Saxophone

Sublime early work from Stan Getz — a lyrical genius even at this early point in his career ! There's a subtle brilliance here that's undeniable — a tenor sound that draws from Lester Young and Ben Webster, but which pushes into fresh new territory for the 50s — lean, but still very soulful at the core — a blend that none of Stan's contemporaries could ever match this well ! The album features a group that includes a very young Bob Brookmeyer on valve trombone, plus rhythm by Teddy Kotick, John Williams, and Frank Isola. Tracks are longish and easily swinging — and Getz's tone, as always, makes the whole thing come together like magic!

Stan Getz - Quintets: The Clef & Norgram Studio Albums (1952-1955) {3CD Set Verve-Hip-O Select B0014657-02 rel 2011}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 929 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 527 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 179 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1952-1955, 2011 Verve / Hip-O Select / Universal | B0014657-02
Jazz / Cool / Bop / West Coast Jazz / Saxophone

Basically, what you see is what you get: all of the recordings Stan Getz did for the Norgran and Clef between December of 1952 and January of 1955. Most of this material has been issued several times – at least – by numerous labels legally and illegally. What makes the Hip-O Select set the definitive issue is, besides proper licensing, that all of these cuts, the 10" albums – Stan Getz Plays, The Artistry of Stan Getz, all three Interpretations volumes, and Stan Getz & the Cool Sounds – along with all the single and EP releases for a total of 45 sides – three of them previously unreleased – and a pair of studio cuts that appeared on the otherwise live Stan Getz at the Shrine appear in chronological order.

The candles are lit, the food is ready, the company is good and the wine is flowing. What else do you need? The right sounds to create the right mood - and here they are. Simply Dinner Jazz features over four hours of the best laid-back jazz ranging from hip and swinging recordings by jazz legends of the past six decades through to cool and classy interpretations of standards and jazz classics by contemporary jazz artists.
Lester Young, Charlie Parker, Stan Getz, Sarah Vaughan, Miles Davis, Charles Mingus, Hank Mobley, Art Pepper, Dizzy Gillespie, Count Basie, Cannonball Adderley and many more.