I Was Wrong About Stan Getz
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- Опубликовано: 12 ноя 2023
- Stan Getz is one of the all-time great jazz musicians. An influential saxophonist that at one time was considered even greater than John Coltrane. For years though, I didn't give him the respect he deserves. Well that changes today as we explore his genius on his recording of 'I Want To Be Happy' with the Oscar Peterson trio.
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"(Getz) ...at one time was considered even greater than John Coltrane" reminds me that Coltrane once said of Getz "we'd all love to have his tone if we could."
I find it really interesting how that sort of tone was on fashion for so long, but became less desired as time has gone on. I imagine it's got something to do with the rise of amplified instruments, but I don't know for sure
Getz was never greater than John Coltrane. But nevermind that. Few were. Getz was a master in his own right. No need to compare him to anyone.
@@RudiMwongozi-gy5lp I agree with you. My particular comment wasn't meant to rank greatness, just sharing an appreciation from a fellow musician.
If there's no room for subtlety understatement and beauty I'm out. Ellington said if you can't swing easy you can't swing hard.
i can dig it but it's really not about an artist being greater or better ( whatever that means)..every artist has their unique style of playing their music..
One of the most lyrical players, with great dynamic sense. The result is often pretty sublime, I think.
Glad you finally recognized the untouchable genius of "Stan The Man" Getz. Never been anyone his equal. Never understood how so many listeners early on formed the opion that Getz couldn't play fast. What a Great Mistake to think that! Listeners should pay closer attention and enjoy the wide range of Stan Getz's virtuosity and creativity. He was Amazing!
I think it's all because his Bossa Nova recordings became so famous - they kind of eclipsed the rest of his output and people (myself included) formed opinions based solely on them. I agree (now) that it's a huge mistake to make
Fell in love with Stan a long time ago through his “Serenity” and “Anniversary” live recordings,what a class act!❤️
I haven't listened to those. I'll check them out for sure!
Serenity is one of my favorites! Great players on that disc!
I agree that this recording is an exceptional tour-de-force of sax riffs, elevating a relatively simple chart to great heights. Thanks for featuring it, one of my favorites.
I love Stan Getz and his Bossa Nova work, his phrasing always fits the vibe perfectly :)
I remember reading the "Getz-Gilberto" LP liner notes, which stated Stan's solos were all done on the first takes. No re-doing anything. Professionalism I call it.. and on a high level. The wonderful Brazilians did something to him on that LP... his character changed to perfectly fit the scene at hand. Getz reminded me of Paul Desmond a lot on that LP.
For a long time I never paid much attention to Stan, but then I came to love his interpretation of Brazilian music and Wow.
Have you listened to Getz with Cal Tjader? His up tempo solo in Ginza Samba is insane. The whole band is all star, with Billy Higgins on drums, Vince Guaraldi on piano and Scott La Faro on bass. On the waltz ballad ' Liz Anne', Getz plays a masterpiece solo that has constant achingly wide intervals and lyrical beyond belief. Knowing Getz, and those band members that day, they probably did it in one take.
I was wondering why I didn't hear Stan Getz' name popping up enough, when discussing favourite sax players. Glad I followed the thought, if only to learn more about this legend (and indeed one of my all-time favourites.)
When I transitioned to jazz, Stan Getz was, and still is, my biggest influence. I believe that with the sax less is more.
That's a great mentality to have - definitely something I struggle with!
Yeah I totally agree, I mean less is more for every instrument. But especially sax players are notey it seems. And I'm a sax player!
@@peterstone1916 Melodies ar best for sax
While Getz isn’t my all time personal favorite player, there will never, EVER, be another player like him.
I have to ask, who’s your favorite?
@@nickbarrow2805 Depends on the instrument but overall, it’s probably cannonball
@@D-KAL-KDZ Great choice. I'm a big fan of the slower West Coast style, so Gerry Mulligan, Stan Getz, Paul Desmond, and Dexter Gordon are my favorites (Dexter has some killer ballads).
@@nickbarrow2805 If I could sound like anyone (besides Cannonball) I would sound like Desmond. Something about his playing man. It’s like putting on warm clothes that just came out of the dryer.
You’re probably too young to remember David Mellor the politician, who is a massive jazz fan. He had aspirations of being a jazz sax player when he was young, but in his own words “I thought I could play and then I heard Stan Getz and realised I’d never be a jazz musician!”.
Finally, I was waiting for this videos for a DECADE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Been listerning his muzik till now! Greetings from Jazzman Kuala Lumpur.
Well-done sir! It is refreshing to see someone correct a misinterpretation and also bring great music to us all. Stan is my favorite tenor player. These days, I really dig Eric Alexander.
I am glad you used an example from the Roost recordings, they were revelation to me especially some of his work with Jimmy Raney from that period (though, not all on the Roost label). Stan had an amazing ear, as well as fingers, really the whole package! The biggest names of tenor sax in the following generation (Coltrane, Shorter, Henderson) were all on record singing praise for Stan.
I haven't checked out many of his other early albums yet, but Live at Storyville really surprised me - it really showed me how ignorant I'd been, perhaps more than the record with Oscar Peterson, given how killer Getz was, and how much Lester Young and Charlie Parker there is in his playing so early on
@@joshwakeham My favorite Stan is still the Focus album. Not so early, maybe '61? A mix of cool and hot Stan, with amazing arrangements and Roy Haynes on the opening cut. It was Stan's personal favorite as well.
Getz au go-go. Might as Well be Spring. Changed my life.
If you haven’t already checked it out you should listen to “Getz at the gate the Stan Getz quartet live at the village gate nov 26 1961”. Absolutely amazing stereo recording not released until 2019!
I checked that one out while making this video. I can't believe they didn't release it for so long!
"Live at the Jazz Workshop in San Francisco" (Cannonball) is still one of my desert island albums after 30 years. In case someone does not understand what Hal Galper means by "Big Beat" he should listen to Sam Jones and Louis Hayes on that album. "This is simultaneously a shout and a chant, depending on what you know about the roots of church music, meaning soul church music; I'm not talking about Bach chorales or so, that's different."
Great vid very well done 🐬
Strangely Stan was one of the first I got into with his light, smooth tone. He softened my ears to jazz allowing me to get into everybody else. Hawk been my go to for a while now though!
Oh wow, we've had pretty much opposite paths then!
@joshwakeham that is what is so cool about jazz! I used to really hate jazz to be honest but from Getz I went to Pres by which point my ears were opening up. I think if I tried to listen to the eternal triangle back then I would have hated it as it wouldn't have made sense. Now I sit there enjoying every single note!!
Excellent insight and points on Getz. He has always been a favorite of mine, although Coltrane was (and is) my "go to" for tenor. I understand your pointing to his uptempo stuff as the reason you changed your mind. but check out the recordings "Serenity" and "Anniversary", recorded in 1987, but not released unti 1991, the year he died. His ballad playing on these live recordings are priceless. One of the greatest ballad players ever!
Fantastic record🎉
A few people have recommended those albums. I'll check them out!
Love to hear your take on Zoot Sims and Charlie Rouse. Thank you,Joshua.⭐🌹⭐(love the stank face,Mate).
I'll dive into them properly, and try to make a video on them at some point!
@@joshwakeham thank you,Josh.✨⭐✨⭐
Well its about time!...I was the one who said you had a good Stan Getz sound. Well, the video is a nice tribute, but you have barely scratched the surface. Its time somebody did a series on this Monster. "He's too much", Bird said about him after hearing Getz play a Contrafact on Cherokee.. Dizz and Stitt must have been blown away while he soloed on "Bebop". Someone needs to look into his lines a lot deeper. Thanks for your efforts.
Hi Pete, yeah I remember you saying that. You're completely right, this is only a small journey into what is undoubtedly killer playing. I'm sure I'll continue to amazed as I dive deeper!
Bird was paying him a compliment. He wasn't in anyway saying Stan is the best on the planet. Love how any compliment the black innovators give a white player is used to almost make the white player look like god. Stan had 'His thing' and he was a great player. But lets not get carried away. And yes, Im white, btw.
@@percyvolnar8010 What? Charlie Parker was black? Who woulda known?. I guess racist people to whom color is important.
Reporting that Bird said "Too much" Is NOT saying Getz is the greatest on the planet. My point was that he was worthy of more study and I think I made that clear. How bout you get over yourself. You have made no contribution to this conversation.
@@clarinetpete9661 Thats right... Act like you don't see color. You're playing it by the book, kiddo. And how about YOU get over ME and stop projecting. Im sure Stan would not have responded to a non-contributing comment. You should try to be more like Stan in this regard. 🤡
Hey Josh --- I laughed when I saw your "Motherf---r" reaction to Stan Getz. Glad to see that you became enlightened and realized what a monster the man was. There's many more examples of his genius. He's definitely one of the greatest musicians ever.
Yeah I'm definitely going to continue diving into his playing!
Great spirit, Josh.
Thanks!
Listen to the tune "Shine" on his West Coast Sessions" album. (1955-1956). His technique is brilliant.
If you like Lester Young, it’s hard not to like Stan Getz. When Getz came up there was a whole bunch of players - Zoot Sims, Illinois Jacquet, Al Cohn, Gene Ammons and countless others - who were in inspired by Prez. It’s a vibe, it’s the history of tenor sax.
Absolutely. I didn't even know about Lester Young when I first heard Getz, and by the time I actually got into him, I'd already subconsciously written off Getz. More fool me I guess!
Also though of Getz as of "airy-fairy" and boring guy for quite a while; what made me come back to him was seeing him with young Chick Corea :)
I’m with you on this. Later in his career, he relied on the distinctive tone and an easy listening cool sound, which was let’s face it commercially very successful. But listening to earlier recordings, his tone was more reliable, especially in lower register, and swinging like a s**thouse door on uptempo tunes, with great creativity. Life probably took its toll. That earlier stuff, though! Prez plus bebop, what’s not to love?
He had some pretty heavyweight later albums too - eg with Kenny Barron and Chic Corea. Really it's just that bossa nova recording with the Gilbertos that got him pigeonholed - he was one of the most dynamic saxophonists of all time, and that soft sweet style was just a part of his extensive palette.
One of my favourite tunes by Stan Getz is Tasty Pudding. A masterclass on blues phrasing!
"Dexter does it, I try to do it". I know exactly how you feel. 😂
The pain is real 😂
I tend to prefer his later playing cause he developed a darker tone while preserving most of the earlier virtuosity. His duet album with Kenny Barron is a fine example and his Concord recordings also.
Thanks for the tip, I'll check those albums out!
Check out West Coast Live by Chet Baker/Stan Getz. It's AMAZING. The polyphony is incredible.
Thanks for the recommendation, I'll check that out this week!
You’ll appreciate the mellower side to Stan getz when you get older young sir. imagine anyone else playing sax on the getz /Gilberto record playing girl from Ipanema and jazz history does not get made. Lol but nice video. cheers!
Stan Getz LP Record "West Coast Jazz"(recorded 1956) Side B last tune "Shine"
Songs pour out of his saxophone and never stop.
I haven't heard that one. I'll check it out!
"Let's face it. We'd all sound like that if we could."
Coltrane about Getz
The amazing, unifying thing about all Getz work is the motif development that is happening under the hood. It’s not just jazz syntax - he’s developing, and innovating often on a single idea you can see throughout the solos, and it’s often happening at breakneck speed.
You're absolutely right. It's full of genius
Totally
Love how you analyse your heroejazzsaxplayers .Really exeiting. WOW
in light of your comments about stan, im curious about how you feel regarding tenor players of the hawk vein, like don byas, lockjaw, ben webster, etc. do you feel that tone contributes to the sense of drive/urgency that you talked about??
I definitely think that tone is a huge part of it. The edgier sound of Byas/Webster etc feels more energetic (to my ears) which definitely adds alot to the drive. Just my opinion though!
You can find on line a PHD thesis which analyses in great detail Stan Getz’s abilities as a bebop player. I think, from memory, his album The Master provides most of the illustrations. Check it out.
Thanks for the tip, I'll definitely dive into that!
Search for Stan Getz Forgotten Bebop Tenor Saxophonist PhD thesis by Marcus Harlowe Wolfe. Lots of transcriptions and analysis. Also see The Artistry of `The Sound’ An analysis of the Stan Getz solos on the album Sweet Rain. PhD thesis by Christopher Wahlmark. Kind regards
Wow, this was great! I gotta check out more Stan Getz. And I appreciate you sharing your teenage blind spots with good humour! The shifting of our tastes, perceptions, and expectations is such a private, organic, necessary, meaningful part of enjoying music, and people can get so defensive, embarrassed, or judgey about it. ✌️
Thanks! You're so right that shifting tastes etc are a natural part of life and musical development. Sometimes people act like not liking a certain musician, or having had a bad take in the past, is a personal attack against them. I don't see any point in hiding away from my own opinions, or admitting ones I no longer agree with. Life's too short for getting embarrassed over silly little things like that
It's great when one's eyes are opened! Welcome!
I think i understood about half of the technical bits, but my goodness could that man get the toes tapping!
Toe-tapping is why more important than anything technical and always will be!
My wife and I had the great pleasure of seeing Getz at Rick’s Cafe Americain, Chicago in the early 80s. Yes, the place was decked out like the club in the film Casablanca complete with a host in a white dinner jacket. The whole experience was magical. He’s always been my favorite since the first bossa nova records. Absolutely effortless and melodic.
Oh wow that sounds amazing!
@@joshwakeham : Yeah, We sat at a white-cloth table with cocktails about 30 feet from the stage.
Oh man I'm pretty envious of that!
@@joshwakeham : Other jazz notables I’ve seen in small venues have been Gary Burton, Paul Horn, Sonny Rollins, The Modern Jazz Quartet, & Count Basie. In large venues I’ve seen Dave Brubeck Quartet w/ Paul Desmond, Joao Gilberto, Winton Marsalis, & Bennie Goodman. All memorable.
Yes but let us forget the best bossa nova sax playing ever on Getz/Gilberto!
His Ballads are magnificent
3:04 lol, “I try to do it” lol
If i may, another great example of his ability as player is the album 'Stan Meets Chet' recorded in collaboration w/ Chet Baker; both had a rep of being 'slow and easy' type players but this album dispels that , especially the closer track, 'Half Breed Apache' - a very fast Contrafact on the changes of 'Cherokee', with both players burnin' it to the ground.
Thanks for the recommendation, I'll check it out!
Well, the same was for me. In those days, the 70s, he was considered a "commercial" player... so I didn't like him, a priori. Then, when I finally listened to him, I understood I was wrong.... thanks for the video!
I think you've missed one other thing (if you're looking/listening in retrospect). His playing really covers so many styles and decades. I too love the recordings you mention, but try Focus, Sweet Rain, Captain Marvel or The Peacocks (with Jimmy Rowles), and his final albums (ex:) Voyage, Anniversary etc. You'll discover that he refined his style and developed a different vocabulary through the years (or eras).
He recorded so much, over such a long period of time. I haven't checked out much of his later work yet - Focus is the latest album I've dipped into - but you and so many other people have given me so many great suggestions. I'll be dining out on these for weeks. Thanks!
I feel you on this, not specifically about Getz, but about being dismissive of a player and eventually realizing how wrong I was because I didn’t understand or realize just how amazing what I was hearing was, now I see it was all a part of me musically growing up
I'm sure everyone's done it somewhere down the line! Who was it you dismissed?
@@joshwakeham I’m a guitar player, and much to my chagrin it was Grant Green, just like you said it was just my personal preferences at the time, but as my understanding of theory and the language grew I was able to understand the levels of his playing and what he was doing, now I study his solos
Because of you, everyone who gets it Getz it...Cheers!
Stan Getz is a beast. I remember seeing the Jazz Icons dvd him playing with John Coltrane! Amazing stuff
I'll have to check that out!
Hey Josh, search youtube for a vid called Stan Getz Performs "Woody 'n You". Stan goes on some great bebop lines and swings hard af.
I'll check that out. Thanks for recommendation!
Josh, Check out the pop recording from Getz with Huey Lewis and the news. The track is called " perfect world ".However this song is only instrumental. Getz is on that recording Just as ferocious as with Peterson. You might be surprised
Thanks for the tip, I'll definitely check that out!
Have u gotten into and talked about joe Henderson yet?
I haven't had the chance to dive into his playing deeply yet. He's on my list though, just got a few other projects to finish off first!
Yeah you better recognize
How about Cannonball Adderley, solo on Miles Davis, Milestones.
+ Stan Getz, playing on The Peacocks.
Anyway, Peace to all.
Stan the man!
I’m a bit shy about superlatives but SG’s got IT. And that’s just fine by me.
I would qualify Stan Getz as some of the most brilliant thematists* ever ! he's a thematist.
Have you checked out the "Focus" album, and its opening track, "I'm Late," from 1961? It actually is great, up tempo playing from a later period, and is two complete takes spliced together. Neither Eddie Sauter, the arranger, nor the producer could decide on which was better.
I love his take of "I'm Late"! I hadn't ever realised it was two takes spliced together. That's a cool bit of trivia
He was killing with Chick Corea and Stanley Clarke in Montreux
I haven't heard that. I'll check it out!
Getz and Zoot Sims were as good as anyone that ever played. Scott Hamilton is my Man
Same here! My repairman kept telling me about him. But for me, it was the record with Chick that did it
A few people have suggested that, I'll check it out!
Sweet Rain is the name of the record that I have@@joshwakeham
Stan getz is the man
Dude, I recently started to appreciate Getz, the Steamer swings very hip, it’s my favorite of his so far. I still can’t get into his later, non-bop stuff
II just checked The Steamer out, it's great!
Glad you've acquired an appreciation of Stan Getz. You sure as heck look like the guy.
Thanks? 😅
I followed a similar arc w Getz. Not into him at first then I realized how BA he was.
...and don't forget that Coltrane loved Getz' playing.
You should hear him on ´for musicians only´with Dizzy and Sonny Stitt.
I checked that album out while making this video. It's killer!
👌@@joshwakeham 🔥
Welcome to the land of the open mind, open ears.
yeah...he was insanely good...and Coltrane really dug his playing too
Yeah, i know that Miles and Coltrane both admired his playing.
Oh really? I didn't know that! All I know about his relationship with Miles is that Miles understandably got frustrated with Getz being picked for certain all-star bands over black tenor players.
@@joshwakeham Oh, well i do know that Miles liked the way that Stan's solos sort of unfolded, or the patience with which he developed his ideas.
He also singled out the recording "Dear Old Stockholm" by Stan Getz & His Swedish All Stars.
(That's what i remember from his autobiography, at least..)
Getz extended the "Prez"
I remember a recording he did with Gillespie and Stitt. With company like that he had to really push himself else be steamrolled. Some of Getz’s most lively playing is on that album, I believe it was For Musicians Only. I like Getz but prefer Zoot Sims.
Oh man that album's great fun. I'd recommend the album Diz & Getz - similar vibe just without Sonny Stitt. Zoom Sims is another person I've never really dug into. I'll check him out!
I need to check out Zoom Sims too. I've always lobed Zoot Sims, is he similar?@@joshwakeham
Use should check out his album captain marvel.
Thanks for the suggestion. I'll have a listen!
ah I wanted to post the same thing. Great advice. It was a revelation to me. With Corea, Clarke, Williams. Never heard anything like it ever.
Getz? Possibly the GOAT.
I used to think the same thing about Dexter Gordon.
It's fascinating how some musicians just don't 'click' for certain people until a bit further down the road!
You DO have have such a great personality/ demeanor for this! And you are ALMOST as good looking as me...uh, don't get a big head though! lol
Haha thanks Lester!
Haha. We were all young once ...
His dad was born in the Mile End road. Thank you Wikipedia.
That's pretty cool!
Oscar Pettiford
Why can't you render an opinion without being foul.
Dude is literally carefully selecting CDs from the shelf like it's 2003! You crack me up, Josh!
Definitely a skit and not something I do most days... 😅
Prop comedy is also so 2003 😆 @@joshwakeham
Christ, I thought you might have a seizure when you started listening! 😂
😂
I am no. 666!
Stan Getz sounds nothing like cool jazz. His sound is coming from a Lester young vantage point. His soiling is coming out of bird, Pres and the other great old tenor players. Cool jaZ has players like Desmond and Gerry mulligan.
You're right. When I described him as cool jazz I was really only referring to his tone and more subtle use of accents etc which are, in my opinion, more in line with the cool jazz aesthetic. I should have been clearer, but hopefully the overall point I'm trying to make with the video still shines through, despite my error.
In my opinion Stan Getz never played better than when he accompanied Gerry Mulligan. I found Getz’ riffing too rabble-rousing. Preferred Prez. Then again I prefer Lee Konitz (any era).
Yep preferences .Everyone has them
You didn’t like Stan Getz?????…..
...Sorry 😅 I dig him now at least!
As if your point of vue had any meaning...😂😂
I love the way you look like you can't stand the music as you listen to it when in fact it's the opposite lol
Haha the stank face is real!
Well, from my personal interaction with Stan, he was indeed a mofo. A nasty person, but a great player.
lol do tell more if you feel inclined
@@joshuaadelaja9996 Met him twice in the early 1980's in Boston and NYC; both times he was very standoff-ish and rude. I spoke to a couple of his bandmates, and they said sort of winked that it was a tough gig, and the club staff confirmed that he was only of the least friendly of performers. Perhaps a little like Chuck Berry was when he played gig: arrive, play, get paid, leave.
He was a heroin addict, lots of people thought he was a jerk, but couldn't deny his skill.
Loved Getz and Gilberto.
You’re right about his playing, but by most accounts, he was a rotten human being. I suppose we just have to separate the two.
Man.. U just discovered a white musician vs. a black... Dude it's a matter of speak. Langual.. Afro amerikans speak om triplets with accents. They don't play jazz - they speak it. Whites don't.
There’s a few good Getz scraps early on, nothing to get that excited about. And after that he makes a career out of a crappy sound and melodramatic “ideas”. If he’d of been better perhaps Zoot Sims would’ve been a little worried.
More opinions from the internet
More opinions from a guy who finds Stan Getz not merely uninteresting, but actually fairly crappy.@@JimboJazz
@@gnarlton7084 The final word Mr Jazz has spoken.Let me check out your discography sometime.We’ll see how many people listen to your music decades after you die.The heavy hitters that recorded with him his entire career -they didn’t seem to think he was bad-all of whom knew way more about music than either of us.I’d tell you to have a nice day but I’m just going to pray for you instead.God bless ❤️
Yeah... the cats would , essentially - and still do - record w/anybody who meets their pay demand. By all means, go right on listening to the insipid tone and canned "ideas" of Stan Getz. I like to spend my time productively so I listen to better saxophone players. To name a few: Dexter Gordon, Sonny Rollins, Joe Henderson, John Coltrane, Sonny Stitt, Pepper Adams, Cannonball Adderley, Charlie Parker, Phil Woods, Jerry Bergonzi, Joe Lovano, Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins, Leo Parker, Sil Austin, Red Prysock, Illinois Jacquet, George Coleman, Bob Berg, Vincent Herring, Earl Bostic, Don Byas.... Save your prayers for the less fortunate.
... Hank Mobley, Ronnie Cuber, Tina Brooks, Steve Grossman....
Sorry for you... Well, I guess you're not a jazz musician...
Because no jazzer has ever made a mistake or judged someone prematurely 😅
yeah, you should hear him with Woody Herman's Big Band. Also, speaking of monsters, check out Sal Nistico (with Woody's band, of course).
I'll dive into that for sure!