Customer Reviews

Soul Eyes

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

 

 

In going back and reviewing my nearly complete works of Stan Getz, the greatest Jazz sax man of all time, I've decided that this delightful album really deserves to be better known. I'll do my part.

One of the best of the classic late 80's Getz posthumous albums. Getz had curtailed his, umm, bad habits and the disease he would eventually die from was in remission. This concert is well recorded, better than some other late concerts and there is lively interaction between Getz, Kenny Barron and the others. They seem to be having a great time together playing off each other.

What sets this album apart is the song selection including "Slow Boat to China" is somewhat unusual for Getz.

Four to five stars - Getz fans should have this in their collection!

The live record "Soul Eyes" (and its companion "Yours and Mine") are valuable and remarkable additions to the vast legacy of one of the greatest saxophone players in Jazz history. The two records contain 12 tunes Getz and his quartet recorded in Glasgow, Scotland, and 3 additional tracks from a gig in Denmark, recorded a month later. So far, I considered "The Dolphin" his ultimate live record, but these two are even better. On this record, the lively "Feijada", the absorbing ballads "Soul Eyes" and "Warm Valley", and the often recorded "Voyage" are all excellent, but the medium-tempo "Slow Boat to China" is my favorite. To me, this tune alone is worth the price of the CD and it goes beyond the power of words to convey the soothing effect of Getz playing. Complete mastery of his instrument and his unique tone put him up there with other giants, such as Miles Davis or Louis Armstrong. So, just sit back and relax and let him refresh your soul with his utterly absorbing tone. This is another marvelous hour of Stan Getz at his best. Just great, if you are a Getz fan, and an incomparable experience if you're new to Stan Getz. Go, get it!

I am a big fan of Stan Getz and he occupies a large section in my Vinly/Cd collection. This is one of albums he did in a period that he was traveling in Europe playing with Kenny Barron, Victor Lewis and others. His classic "sound" is in full voice and the tunes are melodic and the quality of the recording is very good. The BBC recorded a number of Stan's dates in Europe in the late 80's and they are very high quality. This CD is in the top 5 in my Stan collection - Highly recommended.

The brilliant Stan Getz returned to Glasgow after a 32 year interval and treated the Scots to a magnificent program of standards. Every member of the quartet was in top form and Stan, who never made a bad album nor disappointed at a live concert, was sublime from beginning to end. If you love this great artist's sound, inventiveness, depth of emotion and brilliant interpretations you had better add this to your collection.