The Enchanting Euphony of Stan Getz

Unveiling "The Sound": An Iconic Tenor Saxophonist

Stan Getz, a titan among tenor saxophonists, was aptly christened "The Sound" for his ethereal and enchanting tonal prowess—an auditory marvel that has reverberated through the annals of jazz history. Rooted in the influences of the great Lester Young, Getz's musical evolution carved a path where he, in turn, became a monumental influence, a maestro ceaselessly metamorphosing his art.

A Young Prodigy in the Swing Era

Stan Getz's remarkable journey commenced as a teenager amidst the tumultuous backdrop of World War II. The draft compelled him to grace the stages of various major swing big bands. At a tender sixteen, he made his musical debut alongside luminaries such as Jack Teagarden in 1943. Subsequently, he embarked on a captivating odyssey, contributing his talents to the orchestras of Stan Kenton (1944-1945), Jimmy Dorsey (1945), and Benny Goodman (1945-1946), even imprinting his signature with solos on Goodman's records. In July 1946, Getz inaugurated his recording career as a bandleader, presenting four seminal titles.

The Iconic Stint with Woody Herman's Second Herd

However, it was during his tenure with Woody Herman's Second Herd (1947-1949) that Getz's star began to ascend meteorically. Here, in the company of fellow luminaries Zoot Sims, Herbie Steward, and Serge Chaloff, he etched his legacy by lending his signature voice to the original rendition of "Four Brothers" and casting a spellbinding soundscape on the ballad "Early Autumn." Following his departure from Herman's fold, save for intermittent engagements with Jazz at the Philharmonic, Getz embarked on a lifelong journey as a bandleader.

The 1950s: Crafting an Individualistic Sonic Identity

The 1950s witnessed Getz's artistic metamorphosis as he veered away from the shadows of Lester Young, fervently crafting his distinctive musical identity. Rapidly ascending to the echelons of jazz royalty, he unearthed the prodigious talent of Horace Silver in 1950, who became an integral part of his quartet for several momentous months. In 1951, after a transformative tour of Sweden, he formed an exhilarating quintet, a vibrant collaboration with the virtuosic guitarist Jimmy Raney. Their synergy, whether weaving intricate tapestries in uptempo compositions or painting emotive soundscapes in ballads, left an indelible imprint.

Getz's formidable prowess was instrumental in Johnny Smith's chart-topping rendition of "Moonlight in Vermont." Despite personal struggles with substance abuse during the decade, Getz's star continued to ascend, consistently winning polls. The years 1958-1960 witnessed his European sojourn, culminating in the creation of his beloved opus, "Focus," in collaboration with the illustrious Eddie Sauter's Orchestra. February 1962 marked a momentous chapter as Getz, alongside Charlie Byrd, catalyzed the bossa nova movement with the epochal "Jazz Samba" album, featuring the iconic "Desafinado." The subsequent year saw him delving deeper into the bossa nova landscape, collaborating with luminaries like Gary McFarland, Luiz Bonfá, and Laurindo Almeida. However, it was the transcendent "Getz/Gilberto" album, a synergistic revelation with Antonio Carlos Jobim and João Gilberto, that soared to unparalleled heights, propelled by the enchanting "The Girl from Ipanema."

A Decade of Audacious Exploration

Rather than succumbing to the allure of bossa nova, Getz chose a path of audacious exploration in the ensuing decade. His regular ensemble during this epoch was a piano-less quartet, featuring the sublime vibraphonist Gary Burton. His discography of the era brims with audacious forays, including a collaboration with the legendary Bill Evans in 1964, a resplendent contribution to the 1965 Eddie Sauter soundtrack for "Mickey One," and the timeless masterpiece, "Sweet Rain" (1967), alongside the prodigious Chick Corea. While not all recordings from the 1966-1980 period may be considered essential, they serve as a testament to Getz's unwavering resolve to push the boundaries of jazz. Highlights include "Dynasty" with organist Eddie Louiss in 1971, "Captain Marvel" with Chick Corea in 1972, and "The Peacocks" with Jimmy Rowles in 1975. Curiously, Getz briefly flirted with fusion in the late 1970s, leading a unit that featured keyboardist Andy Laverne and even experimenting with an Echoplex on select tracks. Despite a few missteps, the majority of his collaborations with this ensemble retain their artistic merit. However, purists breathed a sigh of relief when Getz signed with Concord in 1981, choosing the path of a purely acoustic backing trio for the majority of his recordings.

A Battle with Adversity and a Triumphant Swan Song

In 1987, adversity struck as Getz underwent the removal of a substantial tumor behind his heart. Subsequent tests unveiled the daunting specter of liver cancer and cirrhosis, likely the result of years marred by substance abuse. Yet, undeterred, Getz embarked on a stringent herbal-based regimen, a desperate bid to combat the lymphoma. Miraculously, in the fall of 1988, MRI scans revealed a remarkable reduction in the tumor's size. Buoyed by this glimmer of hope, Getz continued his musical pursuits, touring alongside pianist Kenny Barron and delivering remarkable albums such as "Apasionado" (1990) with Herb Alpert and "You Gotta Pay the Band" (1990), a poignant collaboration with the gifted vocalist Abbey Lincoln.

Tragically, Getz's valiant battle against cancer proved insurmountable, and on June 6, 1991, the world bid farewell to this jazz luminary at the tender age of 64. His swan song, the 1991 release "People Time," a duet with Barron, though marked by moments of breathlessness, radiates as a brilliant testament to his indomitable spirit.

In the hallowed pantheon of jazz, Stan Getz endures as an eternal beacon of innovation, versatility, and above all, the ineffable beauty of "The Sound." His legacy lives on in the timeless melodies that continue to stir the souls of music enthusiasts worldwide—a resounding testament to the enduring artistry of a true jazz virtuoso.

DISCOGRAPHY

As leader/co-leader

Opus de Bop (Savoy, 1947 [1977])

Groovin' High (Modern, 1948 [1956])

The Brothers (Prestige, 1949 [1956]) with Zoot Sims and Al Cohn

Prezervation (Prestige, 1949–50 [1967]) with Al Haig

Stan Getz Quartets (Prestige, 1949–50 [1955])

Early Stan (Prestige, 1949–1953 [1963]) with Jimmy Raney

The Sound (Roost 1951–52 [1955])

The Getz Age (Roost 1951–52 [1955])

Stan Getz at Storyville Vol. 1 (Roost, 1951 [1955]) with Jimmy Raney Al Haig

Stan Getz at Storyville Vol. 2 (Roost, 1951 [1955]) with Jimmy Raney Al Haig

West Coast Live (Pacific Jazz, 1953–54 [1997]) with Chet Baker

Norman Granz' Jam Session #3 (Norgran, 1953)

Norman Granz' Jam Session #4 (Norgran, 1953)

Interpretations by the Stan Getz Quintet (Norgran, 1954)

Interpretations by the Stan Getz Quintet Vol. 2 (Norgran, 1954

Stan Getz Plays (Norgran, 1952 [1955]) – compiles 10 inch LPs Stan Getz Plays and The Artistry of Stan Getz

Diz and Getz (Norgran, 1954)

Stan Getz at The Shrine (Norgran, 1954)

Hamp and Getz (Norgran, 1955)

West Coast Jazz (Verve, 1955)

Interpretations by the Stan Getz Quintet Vol. 3 (Norgran, 1956)

Stan Getz in Stockholm (Verve, 1956)

For Musicians Only (Verve, 1956) with Dizzy Gillespie and Sonny Stitt

The Steamer (Verve, 1956)

Stan Getz and the Cool Sounds (Verve, 1957)

The Soft Swing (Verve, 1957)

Jazz Giants '58 (Verve, 1957) with Gerry Mulligan, Harry Edison, Louis Bellson and the Oscar Peterson Trio

Award Winner: Stan Getz (Verve, 1957)

Stan Getz and the Oscar Peterson Trio (Verve, 1957)

Gerry Mulligan Meets Stan Getz (Verve, 1957) also released as Getz Meets Mulligan in Hi–Fi

Stan Getz and J. J. Johnson at the Opera House (Verve, 1957)

Cal Tjader-Stan Getz Sextet (Fantasy, 1958)

Stan Meets Chet (Verve, 1958)

Les Tricheurs (Barclay, 1958)

Stan Getz Live in Europe 1958 (Jazz Anthology, 1958 [1982])

Imported from Europe (Verve, 1958)

Stockholm Sessions '58 (Dragon, 1958 [1988])

Stan Getz at Large (Verve, 1961)

Cool Velvet (Verve, 1960)

Getz in Poland (Musa, 1960)

Focus (Verve, 1961)

Recorded Fall 1961 (Verve, 1961) with Bob Brookmeyer

Jazz Samba (Verve, 1962) with Charlie Byrd

Big Band Bossa Nova (Verve, 1962)

Jazz Samba Encore! (Verve, 1963) with Luiz Bonfá

Getz/Gilberto (Verve, 1963) with João Gilberto

Stan Getz with Guest Artist Laurindo Almeida (Verve, 1963)

Reflections (Verve, 1963)

Nobody Else But Me (Verve, 1964 [1994])

Stan Getz & Bill Evans (Verve, 1964 [1988])

Getz Au Go Go with Astrud Gilberto (Verve, 1964)

Getz/Gilberto Vol. 2 (Verve, 1964 [1967]) with João Gilberto

The Canadian Concert of Stan Getz (Vancouver Concert) (Can-Am, 1965)

Stan Getz Plays Music from the Soundtrack of Mickey One (MGM, 1965)

Stan Getz & Arthur Fiedler at Tanglewood (Verve, 1966)

Two Sides of Stan Getz (Unique Jazz, 1966)

The Stan Getz Quartet in Paris (Verve, 1966)

Voices (Verve, 1966)

Sweet Rain (Verve, 1967)

What the World Needs Now: Stan Getz Plays Burt Bacharach and Hal David (Verve, 1968)

The Song Is You (Laserlight, 1969 [1996])

Didn't We (Verve, 1969)

Marrakesh Express (MGM, 1969)

Dynasty (Verve, 1971)

Change of Scenes (Verve, 1971) – with the Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band

Stan Getz with European Friends (Denon, 1959–71 [1996])

Communications '72 (Verve, 1972)

Captain Marvel (Verve, 1972)

Stan Getz Quartet at Montreux (Polydor, 1972 [1977])

But Beautiful (Milestone 1974 [1996]) with Bill Evans

Jazz Jamboree '74 Vol. 2 (Polskie Nagrania Muza, 1974) – split album with McCoy Tyner Quartet

Stan Getz My Foolish Heart Live at the Left Bank, Baltimore (Label M, 1975)

The Best of Two Worlds (Columbia, 1975) with João Gilberto

The Peacocks (Columbia, 1975) with Jimmie Rowles

The Master (Columbia, 1975 [1982])

Getz/Gilberto '76 (Resonance, 1976 [2016]) with João Gilberto

Moments in Time (Resonance 1976 [2016])

Live at Montmartre (SteepleChase, 1977)

Another World (Columbia, 1977)

Mort d'un Pourri (Melba, 1977) – Soundtrack to Death of a Corrupt Man

Jazzbühne Berlin '78 (Repertoire, 1978 [1991])

Academy of Jazz (PolJazz, 1978) with Bob Brookmeyer

Children of the World (Columbia, 1978)

Forest Eyes (CBS, 1980

Midem Live '80 (Personal Choice, 1980)

The Great Jazz Gala '80 (Bellaphon, 1980)

The Dolphin (Concord Jazz, 1981)

Spring Is Here (Concord Jazz, 1981)

Billy Highstreet Samba (EmArcy, 1981)

Blue Skies (Concord Jazz, 1982 [1995])

Pure Getz (Concord Jazz, 1982)

Stan Getz Quartet Live in Paris (Dreyfus, 1982)

Poetry (Elektra Musician, 1983) with Al Dailey

The Stockholm Concerts (Verve 1983)

The Stockholm Concert (Sonet, 1983)

Line for Lyons (Sonet, 1983) with Chet Baker

Quintessence Volume 1 (Concord Jazz, 1983)

Quintessence Volume 2 (Concord Jazz, 1983)

Voyage (Black Hawk, 1986)

Anniversary! (EmArcy, 1987)

Serenity (EmArcy, 1987)

Bossas & Ballads – The Lost Sessions (Verve, 1989 [2003])

Homage to Charlie Parker (A&M, 1989)

Yours and Mine (Concord Jazz, 1989)

Soul Eyes (Concord Jazz, 1989)

Apasionado (A&M, 1989)

The Final Concert Recording (Eagle Jazz, 1990 [2000])

People Time (EmArcy 1991) with Kenny Barron

Live jam sessions with various artists[edit]

The JATP All-Stars at the Opera House (Verve, 1957)

Norman Granz Presents Jazz at the Philharmonic in Europe Vol. 4 (Verve, 1960)

Norman Granz Presents Jazz at the Philharmonic in Europe Vol. 2 (Verve, 1960)

Norman Granz Presents Jazz at the Philharmonic in Europe Vol. 4 (Verve, 1960)

Jazz at the Santa Monica Civic '72 (Pablo, 1972)

Newport in New York '72: The Jam Sessions, Vol. 1 and 2 (Cobblestone, 1972)

Montreux Summit Volume 1 (Columbia, 1977)

Montreux Summit Volume 2 (Columbia, 1977)

Havana Jam (Columbia, 1979) with the CBS Jazz All Stars

Havana Jam II (Columbia, 1979) with the CBS Jazz All Stars

All Star Jam Session (Eastworld, 1981) at Aurex Jazz Festival '81

Live Special (Eastworld, 1981) at Aurex Jazz Festival '81

Compilations

1956: Conception (Prestige)

1957: Stan Getz and the Cool Sounds (Verve)

1962: The World of Stan Getz (Verve)

1965: The Melodic Stan Getz (Metro)

1980: The Best of Stan Getz (Columbia)

1984: Stan the Man (Verve, 1952–61 [1984])

1988: The Lyrical Stan Getz (Columbia)

1997: The Complete Roost Recordings (Blue Note)

1998: Jazz 'Round Midnight: Bossa Nova (Verve)

2002: Café Montmartre (Universal France)

2002: The Very Best of Stan Getz (Verve)

2010: People Time: The Complete Recordings (EmArcy, 1991 [2009])