Customer Reviews

Best of West Coast Sessions

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For the perplexed.

This CD is a "best of" culled from the Getz three CD set called "West Coast Sessions".

Years later, Verve re-released the complete original 1950's sessions on CD's "West Coast Jazz", "Award Winner" and "The Steamer". These have much better mixes of the same music at a higher sampling rate and some other additional tracks.

The first of these, "West Coast Jazz", duplicates much of the tracks herein and includes some others.

I was not surprised to read that Lou Levy, the pianist for Stan Getz' West Coast sessions, selected the tracks. The piano almost steals the show from Getz' marvelous sax.

Still, Getz is the highlight, and this is a great collection of small ensemble performances. While some numbers are more uptempo (How About You, East of the Sun) this album really shines in the evening when you can sit back and appreciate the tremendous artistry of Stan Getz and -- yes -- Lou Levy, whose piano provides an ample (and tasteful) rhythm section.

Recommended.

This is the best single CD culled from the box-set with the same cover. All of the tracks on this one are great. "Blues For Mary Jane", "Four", the opening track, and especially the beautiful ballad - with a few false starts, "Handful Of Stars". This is a fairly priced gem of Stan's "West Coast" best along with one of my favorites, who passed away last year, Conte Candoli, Lou Levy, Shelley Manne, and Leroy Vinnegar. Don't pass this one by.