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STAN GETZ QUARTET Live in Europe Salvo SALVOSVX 039

CD and DVD

1. Captain Marvel

2. Day Waves

3. Lush Life

4. Windows

5. I Remember Clifford

6. La Fiesta

7. Time’s Lie

Stan Getz – Tenor sax

Chick Corea – Piano

Stanley Clarke – Bass

Tony Williams - Drums

This CD and DVD set is a recording of Stan Getz’s first appearance at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1972. He led a quartet with two familiar musicians – Chick Corea and Stanley Clarke – and one surprise performer, drummer Tony Williams. Chick Corea had been part of Stan Getz’s group until he formed Return to Forever in 1972, which also included Stanley Clarke. Tony Williams had aroused great interest playing for Miles Davis but by 1972 he had formed his own group, Lifetime.

This Montreux gig was a “one-off” but what a “one off” it was! The concert begins with the fireworks of Chick Corea’s Captain Marvel, a lively fusion piece which shows the musicians’ extraordinary techniques to the full. Stanley Clarke’s fingers touch the double bass with amazing speed, while Tony Williams’ phenomenal technique maintains a permanent rhythmic undercurrent without stealing the limelight. In the sound balance, the bass is too dominant in this and later tracks. Knowing Tony Williams’ previous work, I expected the drums to be predominant, so it is a surprise that the bass takes precedence.

Lush Life begins with rhapsodic playing from the piano before Getz caresses Billy Strayhorn’s composition with that very special tone that only Getz seems able to coax from a saxophone. Another ballad, I Remember Clifford, begins with a lack of coordination but settles down into a gentle 4/4.

Another Chick Corea composition, La Fiesta, is a riot of rhythms. The final number, Time’s Lie, starts moderately but soon the tempo doubles into Chick Corea’s favourite Latin-fusion beat. Tony Williams’ drum solo left me (a lesser drummer) with mouth agape.

The proficiency of Corea, Clarke and Williams makes this a memorable concert. The fact that it is also on a DVD makes it possible to see what each of these three contributes to the mix. But it is Stan Getz’s warm, smooth playing which finally binds each tune together and unifies the whole performance.

Tony Augarde
www.augardebooks.co.uk

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