Customer Reviews

Apasionado

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I don't know if this album received that much attention when it came out but I've been listening to it lately a lot. I'm a saxophone player, and Getz is not even usually one of my favorites. I always thought his sound was too lightweight or something. The only albums I liked were the early Bossa Nova ones, but not any more. He plays so soulfully on this album, it's like he's literally crying, wailing, and his sound is so beautiful and big and perfect intonation--all the more amazing since he had terminal cancer at the time of the recording. You would never know it. This is a very arranged album with lots of horns and synthesized instruments and percussion and lots of different styles and grooves, but don't let that discourage you because it's very intimate and Stan is the only soloist, blowing all the way through. Occasionally the arrangements are a little annoying. But the bottom line, if you like Stan Getz, buy this record, you won't be sorry.

. . . what with the master finding himself in a setting with electric piano, various synthesizers, background horn "sweetening," and fusion drummer Jeff Porcaro. But you know what? His res, the shear weight of his presence, lifts what could've been a lightweight, throwaway date into the stratosphere--or at least the upper atmosphere.

When this session was recorded in the early nineties, jazz was going through an awkward phase. It was thought by many that it could not compete with New Age and Fusion music without a little sweetening and compromise. If it stayed true to itself and its roots, it would find itself relegated to the musical backwaters of cultural irrelevance. The subsequent decade and a half have pretty thoroughly laid to rest that notion, but the jazz world at this time found itself littered with attempts to make it relevant.

This is one of those. And one of the more successful efforts. But it's almost entirely because of the enormous presence of Getz, the most significant sax voice of his generation, and one of a handful of giants on his instrument in the history of jazz.

Still, when all is said and done, this is a disc a lot more likely to appeal to fans of the Rippingtons than fans of Joe Lovano. The songs, all except one credited to Eddie del Barrio, Herb Alpert, and Getz himself, seldom rise above pleasant though rather generic-sounding jazz fusion, mostly of a vaguely Brazilian sort. Jobim lite.

On the other hand, it does have Kenny Barron on piano, Oscar Castro Neves on guitar, and Paulinho da Costa on percussion, players of the first rank, who generally lend the proceedings a gravitas not usually associated with smooth jazz, and even occasionally goose Mr. Getz into some impassioned statements.

Throw in some very slick arranging, production, and recording values and you have a disc that nearly swamps the leader in saccharin. But doesn't. Just barely.

Certainly worth owning, as any Getz disc is, if only for its novelty value and to hear the master beat the surrounding fluff into submission. But not essential. If faced with a choice, you're better off with Bossas & Ballads: The Lost Sessions, from around the same period, which IS among Getz's greatest ever discs. Four-and-a-half stars.

The legend of Stan Getz has always fascinated me and in 1990 when this masterpiece was released, Stan Getz made an appearance on the Boston Pops where he also played with the other guest artist Melissa Manchester and was so extraordinary that I purchased "Apasionado" upon its release!! Hypnotic is the opening title song and Stan plays with so much soul that I am carried away each time and the arrangement is incredible!! Kenny Barron on Acoustic Piano is also amazing and this is truly a magical musical journey that is a great escape and the best instrumental set in my collection that I come back to year after year!!! Orchestrations flow and the fluid solo of Stan in "Coba" is again brilliantly complemented by the masterful Kenny Barron creating a rich tropical delight full of passion. Totally inspired is this set of original classics that were all composed by producer Herb Alpert, arranger Eddie del Barrio and Stan Getz himself!!! Mesmerizing is the enchanting "Waltz For Stan" with Stan giving a soulful and glorious performanace quite unlike anything I have ever experience before and the arrangement again beautifully showcases his classic solo. Exotic latin rhythms caress and surround a gorgeous passionate solo that is full of fire in the exquisite "Espanola" while fascinating rhythm changes make "Madrugada" a wild ride with incredible interplay between Stan and Kenny Barron with both at their absolute peak!! Each work has its own unique feel with Stan mellow yet powerful and all over the map and at his all time creative peak and one would never know that he was extremely ill when this recording was made. I was so sad when he passed away so quickly after its release as this was a new plateau...Stan weaves a mellow spell in the beautiful jazzy "Quiet Storm" classic "Amorous Cat" and gives another masterful performance in the tour-de-force "Midnight Ride" which again features GREAT keyboard playing by Kenny Barron that flows beautifully with Mr. Getz who is at an incredible peak in this stunning masterpiece that is a ride you won't want to end!!! Ending this soulful set is the soft and haunting "Lonely Lady" that is a 4 A.M. classic that is very smooth and a lovely ending to a remarkable set that is my personal favorite from this legend...Thank You Mr. Getz for this incredible gift that is from your soul...This is a timeless classic...

It is apparent from the moment this album spools up, that this is Getz's talent at its mature best. When he swings, it is with an indescribable glide & kink. When he speaks to you, he speaks so intimately. Only a great jazz artist in the fullness of his later years could touch us so.

This disc is one that gets getter every time I listen to it. When it first came out, I was a little annoyed because it seemed overproduced. However, in retrospect, it doesn't matter how much "fluff" you add, Getz's playing manages to make the experience memorable. Stan Getz is one of those rare artists who has the ability to take someone else's songs and make them distinctly his own. Although he was not a prolific music writer, his interpretatations have left an indelible mark on the world of jazz. Getz is a master of the understatement. He doesn't add notes where they are not needed. He does not rely on the Kenny G school of pointless arpegios to astound us with his swift (though undeniable flat) fingerwork. I am always amazed by his clarity of pitch. Stan Getz was truly a master, and I only regret that I was unable to see him perform live.

I have had this album since it's release and have not listened to it that much. Recently I went back for a re-evaluation.

For the last decade or so of his life Stan Getz decided to opt out of Fusion and return to maintstream jazz, mostly playing standards or the occational song written by a band member. A good move, seventies Fusion was not for him.

This album is hard to pigeonhole, it's not standards, it's not Fusion, it's a not really Jazz-Lite, altho is has Jazz-lite elements. It has some new-agey sounds in places, sythesizers played in real time. It is more highly produced than most of Getz' late albums. Songs are all new. Mostly Eddie Del Barrio, and was said elsewhere, Herb Alpert and Getz himself writing! The sound, mood and tempo meander within each song. Getz does a far better job adapting to this than his Fusion efforts and is regularly putting in his best part. He plays with much enthusiasm and emotion, it's not Cool and aloof, but he is still marvellously melodic.

In "Apasionado" Getz is passionate (!), lots of synths, the mood shifts freqently but the tune is never disagreeable. As is said below, Getz crys and wails and shouts musically. The next two cuts "Coba" "Waltz for Stan" also explore new territory but hold your interest. The Waltz is a beautiful Getz ballad. Songs fade in and out of a Spanish and Bossa Nova influence in places.

Next middle two Spanish/pasa doble cuts of the album are my least favorites.

The sensuous "Amorous Cat" may be the most coherent song on the album, Getz tenor sax winds around the other players like a cat in heat. The album gently with ballad "Lovely Lady".

I'm not sure as the other reviewers where Getz was with the active cancer that would kill him in a year or two. In his last decade, he had cancer, it went in remission for years, it came back. But he doesn't sound weak or winded as he does on "People Time".

This music here while new and different but not as experimental/dissonant as "Change of Scenes" or "Mickey One".

While this album is not as wonderful as "Anniversary", I think this a pleasant and interesting album deserves a re-evaluation. A good addition to the Getz canon.

Though said to be already ill with the cancer that would kill him, one would hardly know from Stan Getz's sure way with the melodies on this disc in which synthesizers fill the function of strings (adding color and aural background.) Trad listeners might be put off by producer Herb Alpert, fearing too much gloss, but Getz specifically thanks his producer . The production is deft with arrangements by Alpert and synthesizer player Eddie del Barrio leaving the Latin style songs (written by del Barrio, Alpert, and Getz) as showcases for the tenor. Too, Getz's late career muse Kenny Barron is on acoustic piano lending his classy and wise leavening touch. A personal favorite track is "Waltz For Stan" with its caressing sound from the honoree. "Midnight Ride" and the title tune also warm the ears and heart. I like this as much as the different, but equally gorgeous "Winter Moon" by Art Pepper (another five star with strings.)

I am a big Stan Getz fan and this is my favorite of all his recordings. I'm not sure that one could find a more soulful song than Waltz for Stan, or a more soulful CD than Apasionado.

Produced by the legendary musician/producer, Herb Alpert, this 1990 disc shows the playful and free-spirited Stan Getz at his best. Tracks are lively and melodic. Even with all the various musical instruments involved, besides Getz' saxophone - synthesizers, piano, bass, percussion, electric guitar, drums, trombone, and a tuba, the results are music that is pure magic. Listen to the amazing music created by artists who seemed to know when to join in and when to back off, how to complement each other without being over-bearing. The music is over 20 years-old but the way they played it - it is timeless. Listen to the disc and be amazed.

I've been looking for this item for months, thank for your quick service.

Earnest