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Reviewers: Don Mather, Dick Stafford, Marc Bridle, John Eyles, Ian Lace, Colin Clarke, Jack Ashby



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STAN GETZ

Anniversary

Universal VERVE 838 769 – 2

 

1

El Cahon

2

I Can’t Get Started

3

Stella By Starlight

4

Stan’s Blues

5

I Thought About You

6

What Is This Thing Called Love

7

Blood Count

Stan Getz’s great talent was universally acclaimed by music fans and fellow musicians alike. His playing always showed the early influences of Lester Young and it was not without flavours of Charlie Parker. On ballads his tone, melody and flowing lines were often executed with the sensuality of Ben Webster.

‘Anniversary’ was recorded live in Copenhagen in 1987 – four years before he died. One of his finest partnerships came at this time and here the ‘mature’ Getz is joined by Kenny Barron, piano – Rufus Reid, bass and Victor Lewis, drums. Not only were these three of the most popular accompanists around they were chosen by Getz because he admired their work, they could work off each other and he fell easily into their ideas and new directions.

Commentators have often claimed that many jazz creators reach the climax of their musical careers by the age of thirty. Not so with Stan Getz as ‘Anniversary’ shows – this honest and beautiful music came during the last years of his life. As with so many of the ‘jazz greats’ Getz walked a tightrope throughout his life but he managed to leave us with a wealth of quality recordings. This music will live forever and the re-issue of ‘Anniversary’ will enable the future generation to realize the joy and intensity of his work.

It is well recognized that Stan Getz was one of the finest saxophone players that ever lived. Ben Webster was renowned for his ballad playing and the intense feeling he put into a performance. Getz was the same – there was so much in his expressive genius that it could bring tears to the eyes. On the other hand when he was ‘cooking’ on an up tempo number ‘Stanley the Steamer’ was up with the very best. There is no need to highlight or go into detail on any of the seven tracks on ‘Anniversary.’ Each has its own qualities and character and throughout Getz and his three companions turn in a performance par excellence.

Jack Ashby

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