Customer Reviews

Anniversary

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This is Stan Getz GREATEST album!

"Getz/Gilberto" is the album he will be remembered for, his best seller, but Stan put more of himself, tried for perfection here and hit the mark! Recorded in the same live concert was "Serenity", but THIS album has the beautiful, serene ballads for which Getz is most famous, if that's what you are looking for. ("Serenity", despite the title, has the upbeat bebop tunes, mostly. I think the titles should be switched!)

Recorded to celebrate his sixtieth birthday. Stan Getz, in the 80's, was sick with cancer and considered washed up by many in jazz after a decade or so of trying to follow the latest trends like fusion.

But here he was off the drugs and alchohol and his cancer was in remission. He went back to doing what he did best, beatiful lyric saxophone, 3d blue velvet fog sculpted notes on straight ahead traditional jazz standards. (No bossa nova). Ballads and bebop. The result is one of the greatest comeback albums of all time.

There is no longer any attempt to be "cool". He is more expressive and emotional (happy, sad) than his early work, without ever sounding angry or cynical.

Excellent back up band, with his "soulmate" Kenny Barron on piano. Excellent recording.

2005 update - of all the Getz albums I have, and I have a lot, this is the one I listen to most. More than Getz/Gilberto, more than Bossa & Ballads, more than Jazz Samba, etc. The music just pours from his soul as if the sax were connected to his heart. All are masterpieces but "Blood Count" "Stella By Starlight", "I thought about you" and "I Can't get Started" sparkle with a real magic.

Highest recommendation. Number #1 on my complete list of Stan Getz best!

This is a wonderful album. The tunes and the performances are tremendous. I don't know who the keyboard player is but if you enjoy piano, that in itself is worth the album. The band is so tight and smooth; excellent recording. Highly recommended.

What can I say? Stan Getz has the perfect tone, the perfect lyrical directions, always in the moment of the composition, and his ideas are endless. His live albums are heavy, groovy, sexy, jazzy, and they put you into the happy place! Thank you Stan - We love you Brother!Anniversary!

This excellent concert is available on DVD, Stan Getz Live in Copenhagn, Denmark; with Kenny Barron on piano, Rufus Reid on Bass, and Victor Lewis on drums; also available on DVD is Stan Getz Last Concert, filmed in Germany; and on VHS and DVD is Stan Getz live at the Robert Mondavi Vineyards near San Francisco...one should also collect the beautiful DVD "Last Concert" of Chet Baker in Tokyo, 1988; all of these are available at Amazon.com at very reasonable prices.