Moonlight in Vermont

Stan Getz, Johnny Smith | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 19, 1991)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Blue Note Records
• ASIN: B000002UZR
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #257,210 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #82 in Music > Indie Music > Jazz > Cool Jazz

Track Listings

1. Where or When

2. Tabú

3. Moonlight in Vermont

4. Jaguar

5. Jaguar [Alternate Take]

6. I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance With You

7. Vilia

8. My Funny Valentine

9. Sometimes I'm Happy

10. Stars Fell on Alabama

11. Nice Work If You Can Get It

12. Tenderly

13. Cavu

14. I'll Be Around

15. Yesterdays

16. Cherokee

17. What's New?

18. I'll Remember April

19. Lullaby of Birdland

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure, clean, unadulterated artistry, December 3, 1999

By 

Clayton Chan (Minnesota, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Moonlight in Vermont (Audio CD)

In modern times, Johnny Smith has become unappreciated and forgotten for the superb artistry he displayed as a jazz guitarist-maestro. Listen to Moonlight in Vermont. It is unique for its combination of pithy feeling and technical virtuosity. Technically, Smith burns on single-note leads and soothes with inventive chord melody playing. Perhaps his style sometimes borders on being too precious and precise, but this is trifling criticism. His style comes from the "cool" school of jazz (Lennie Tristano, et al.), but he imbues his music with too much controlled emotion to be called purely "cool." Also, fine tenor sax work from Stan Getz and Zoot Sims serve as excellent complements to Smith's fretboard excursions. A must have CD for any fan of true, original jazz guitar (eg, fans of Jimmy Raney, Wes Montgomery, Tal Farlow, Joe Pass, Kenny Burrell, Barney Kessel, Herb Ellis, etc.).

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just music, nothing more . . ., April 13, 2001

By 

Cletus R. Petus (Boise Idaho) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Moonlight in Vermont (Audio CD)

No heroin habit, no personal inconsistencies to make his life overly complicated and dramatic, no expatriation to Paris or religious fads to sell, no distinguishing anything. Johnny Smith lets his playing do the talking. No one ever played the guitar better. No album has ever been more about the music, and less about peripheral things. Now you know who Johnny Smith is, listen to him and hear the truth behind the myth which says "It's all about the music."

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Johnny Smith, a great jazz guitarist, at his best., September 5, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Denver Colorado) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Moonlight in Vermont (Audio CD)

September 5, 1998

Album reviewed:

Moonlight In Vermont By Johnny smith

Johnny Smith, one of the Premier Guitarist who embraced Be Bop Jazz in the 50s. He is great on this album.

There were some Guitarist in the 50s that were held to be in the same category, as far as being the great ones in Jazz. Johnny Smith, Barney Kessel, Tal Farlow, George Van Eps, and I'm sure there were more that were not well known. It was a great time for guitar. And some of the very best guitars were made during this time period.

Johnny Smith wrote:

Moonlight in Vermont, the title cut of this CD. The song made Smith Famous.

At the time Johnny Smith recorded Moonlight in Vermont, he was working in New York City, 52nd avenue, and playing on the today show, trumpet there. Smith was a self-taught guitarist, but I have never known if he taught himself trumpet or not. Johnny Smith never achieved any fame on trumpet, but he made a pretty good living from the work he had as a trumpet player.

I had bought this album and many more Johnny Smith Albums by 1964. When I went on my first Vacation in Colorado, I stopped in at Johnny Smith's guitar shop in Colorado Springs; he had just opened it about three month before I arrived on Vacation. I got to shake his hand, and talk to him a lot. I'm sure he would have liked for me to have purchased a guitar from him, since he was in business, to make a living, but I didn't need another guitar. He was very friendly to me. I enjoyed my visit wit him much.

Johnny Smith's wife had died, his health had gone bad, the doctor had recommend he leave New York City and move where the sunshine was bright, and the air was pure. So Johnny Smith had opened a Music Store in Colorado Springs, selling guitars and amps. And he was playing weekend jobs in Denver, on 17th street, Shanners it was called, and was a Deli not a club. But it was a great Jazz experience for Johnny Smith and his Quartet, and for those who went to see the Great Be Bop Jazz Guitarist. The place was always filled with fans that gave standing ovations.

Well at Shanners I got to hear Johnny Smith and his Quartet, Guitar, Piano, Drums, and Bass, play all the great songs on this album. Johnny Smith was in his hey day in the 60s there in Colorado. You simply could not possibly believe how good he was, and how wonderful his music sounded. There can be no doubt that Johnny Smith was expressing a very high-level of musical genius there at shanners, and on his recordings, and there were many artistic recordings at this time.

He made an album with Stan Getz that was the most wonderful guitar and sax you could possibly hear in this physical world. The Music was heavenly. That album was also Titled Moonlight in Vermont. This is one of my very Favorite Johnny smith recordings. But it has not made it to CD.

Johnny Smith made an album with Art Van Damme, the Jazz Accordionist. It was the most fabulous thing you imaginel. I did not know that accordion was a great Jazz instrument until I heard this album. . By the way, there is an Art Van Damme CD here on amazon.com He is a great Jazz Musician.

All the songs are great on this album I am reviewing, Moonlight In Vermont:

There are slow songs like:

8. My Funny Valentine 10. Stars Fell On Alabama 12. Tenderly

And Johnny smith had pretty well become very famous for his slow and tender type songs after Moonlight in Vermont became so popular. However, he was very fast on guitar. Two fast Songs on this album are:

2. Tabu 5. Jaguar (alternate version)

Listen to them and you will hear what speed and technicque this gifted guitarist had.

Well Johnny Smith operated his Guitar Shop, selling guitars in Colorado Springs until he retired I the early 1990s. I understand he lives on his Ranch near the Springs, as Coloradans call that wonderful town.

If you love Jazz Guitar, there is none better than Johnny Smith.

By the dobroman in Denver