Customer Reviews

Sweet Rain

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3 star:		(1)
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In 1967, Stan was making the transition from Bossa Nova back to Bop and Cool Jazz. Elements of all these forms are blended in Dizzy's bossa "Con Alma." Young Chick Corea (piano) brought his brilliantly complex compositions, "Litha" and "Windows, which, like "Con Alma," have stretches of bop intensity mixed with cool jazz lyricism. Moreover, there is a more jazzy version of the great bossa nova tune "O Grande Amor."

The staggering creativity and versatility of Getz throughout this album literally had me reeling, especially on the opening track, "Litha" and the poignant title track where he explores the lower register of the tenor sax in a unique way. From start to finish, Corea is excellent as is Ron Carter on bass and Grady Tate on drums. All in all, this is an underrated and innovative jazz masterpiece and is as essential for any jazz lover as the more well known "Kind of Blue," "Time Out," and "Sketches of Spain."

For a lot of people who were familiar with Stan Getz, many associated him too closely as the Bossa nova king such as Gary Burton but this album refuted the point brilliantly. Not only was he a hard core bopper but he could do modal tunes like Chick Corea's "Litha", Mike Gibbs title tune, and Gillespie's perennial bop tune,"Con Alma. This last tune he plays to perfection but then just everything he does here is great. There are traces of the Coltrane influence in his sudden leaps on "Con Alma" and David Baker carefully annotated Getz's brilliant solo on this piece de resistance. And of course there is the beauty of his tone or "marshmellow" tone as Freddie Hubbard called it, in the bossa "O Grande Amor" which he brilliantly delinerates here. If you're ready to be converted, do check this album--it stands head and shoulders next to "Focus" as Getz's best!! Or as fellow friend/musician Miles Davis said in an interview, "He could play the telephone book and make it sound beautiful--he has so much taste!!" And John Coltrane who listed Stan as one of his favorites along with Dexter Gordon said. "Everyone should sound like that".

This jazz record is so different in style to so many of his works that it confirms my belief that Stan Getz never stopped changing and evolving during his musical career. Unlike so many other artists it appears Stan enjoyed taking on new challenges and expanding his horizons.

Although this record may initially take a number of listenings to really appreciate it, I feel that this challenge has produced a jazz masterpiece. Listen and be rewarded.

As smooth as honey and as fine as spun sugar, this cd flows gently from one song to the next in what appears to be an effortless musical session.

This collection of songs is played by a four-piece combo, yet the talent of these musicians create a subtle, but rich experience. Chick Corea who plays awesome piano wrote two of the songs. Other composers are Antonio Carlos Jobim and Dizzy Gillespie.

Highly recommended for all Stan Getz or Chick Corea fans, as well as anybody who appreciates fine mellow jazz.

This was the album that introduced me to Chick Corea back in '68.

Thirty years later, I'm still not tired of it.

This was Stan's second album after he stopped recording bossa nova. Although jazz fans love this, pop music fans who are looking for bossa nova will find this more than they had bargained for.

Highly recommended.

Stan's playing is great on this CD, no doubt. BUT, if you like this one and this style, you simply have to at least listen to his Captain Marvel album. It is among the all-time best, of any jazz artists. It also includes Stan, Chic, Stanley Clarke and Tony Williams and is just beyond hot.
Brian

This is one of the best Stan Getz' CD's in his collection. These songs flow beautifully from the beginning to the end. All the members on this 1967 Album are really tight, which has produced a excellant Album. You cannot miss with this complilation of fine jazz.

In my opinion, Sweet Rain by Stan Getz, is one of his best recordings (and believe me, he had many great ones)!

This CD has a sound which could best be described as "rich" or "sophisticated." It's easy to see that Mr. Getz selected these tunes very carefully, songs fit together nicely. Not one song on this disc makes you scratch your head and wonder "how did this one get on the album?"

The disc is not comprised of "in your face" type songs, you won't find yourself tapping your toes or snapping your fingers, Instead you may find yourself just relaxing and enjoying the music.

I recommend many of Mr. Getz recordings but this one in particular stands out for me.

Outstanding jazz performances from one of the legendary jazz saxaphonists of the 20th century.

This will be a sweet and short review. This CD is vintage
Stan Getz, great tracks even though there are only five tracks
on this CD. I was listening to another Stan Getz CD called focus
prior to Sweet Rain, this CD was too deep for me. Sweet Rain is
great sounding CD, the other CD is too classical sounding for me.
I encourage you to buy the Sweet Rain CD.