Customer Reviews

Dolphin

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4 star:		(2)
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"The Dolphin" was recorded at the Keystone Korner, a small club in San Francisco, which resulted in one of Getz' greatest live records. The intimate atmosphere of the club and the added benefit of a well rehearsed, highly imaginative quartet at his side let Getz excel on the six tunes that are collected here. "The Dolphin" is the inevitable reminder of his Bossa Nova days, but it sounds as fresh and lively as if Getz had begun his love affair with Brazilian music only yesterday. Pianist Lou Levy, who had worked with Getz for more than 30 years when they made the record, is one of the best pianists Getz ever had, and I was utterly absorbed by his solo on "The Dolphin". Ballads ("A Time for Love", "My Old Flame") and up tempo tunes ("Joy Spring", "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes") are both present on the record, and it is difficult not end up in stereotypes describing them. Let's say that it will be highly difficult not to like them. A good record for any occasion, but if you happen to have a beach and cool drink handy, sit down and relax with a superb record of an artist who "believes in the power of beauty, instead of finding beauty in power", as Leonard Feather put it.

After years of playing Bossa Nova, his misadventures in Fusion, and flirtations with avant-garde in the 70's, Stan decided he was "willing to play what people wanted but he wasn't willing to wear costumes and silly paper party hats" or words to that effect. He returned to what he did best. Concord let him play what HE wanted.

This is the upbeat half of a live concert. (CD "Spring is Here" contains the ballads and swing songs half, although the songs are more evenly divided than on The other excellent Concord live releases "Pure Getz" and "Blue Sky").

A state-of-the-art recording, an excellent side group. Stan is in top form, free of drugs and booze. He is here more emotional and less cool. Mainstream straight ahead jazz (no bossa nova).

Stanley the Steamer cooks along.

Approved and released by Stan while he was alive.

This 1981 disc catches Getz entering his final phase, setting fusion and bossa largely behind him & concentrating on making lovely music out of the traditional tenor-plus-rhythm quartet. The title-track is a tune by Brazillian composer Luiz Eca, given a relaxed (almost 10-minute) reading; there are readings of two Johnny Mandel tunes, "A Time for Love" & "Close Enough for Love" (the latter my favourite track here), the old standard "My Old Flame", & a couple boppier numbers: Clifford Brown's "Joy Spring" & a reading of "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes" which pays homage to Bud Powell (rather than Coltrane, whose version of the tune tends to weigh heavily on most covers of it I've heard). The hardworking, underrecognized pianist Lou Levy plays beautifully throughout the album, there's excellent support from bassist Monty Budwig & drummer Victor Lewis, & Getz's murmurous sound is well caught by the very good live recording. What's not to like?

I have long admired Stan Getz and bought the vinyl record version of this album many years ago. I tried to get the CD and eventually did so. As a result, this superb collection of tunes now regularly wafts around the apartment. Getz is renowned, of course, for his bossa nova recordings with the likes of Gilberto in the early 1960s. This album moves in a slightly different genre and just as lyrical. Wonderful.