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5.0 out of 5 stars
Getz the sideman: Great early recordings, June 18, 2006
A compilation to make a careful organizer crazy: although issued under Stan Getz's name, Stan was actually only a sideman on these sides, which were originally issued under guitarist Jimmy Raney's leadership (4 titles) and Terry Gibbs's (the rest). The Gibbs-led date is from 1949 (his first on record under his own leadership), and features a number of alternate takes. MICHELLE is in two parts, the first featuring Gibbs, the second Getz. It's a ballad, though it's taken just a bit too slowly. Both takes are pretty much identical. T&S is an up-tempo swinger, as is SPEEDWAY - which is aptly named though this one is too fast for its own good (it's a bit ragged and goes by in a blur), though Gibbs handles his part nicely.
The Raney-led session is from 1953 (his first on record as a leader) and contains the better music. SIGNAL is an infectious 48-bar tune (16-bar bridge), taken up-tempo, that grabs you and (fortunately) won't let go. Frank Isola's drumming is excellent here. MOTION and LEE are very similar in theme, though the latter, which is about a minute shorter, takes top honors. Both sessions offer up some terrific small-group modern recordings - great Stan, Raney, and Gibbs. A classic.
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