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Stan Getz Archive

Jeff RUPERT/Richard DREXLER – Imagination / R&D – Rupe Media

by Audiophile Audition | Oct 11, 2018 | Jazz CD Reviews

Two University of Central Florida instructors go deep into a mid- 80’s Stan Getz bag.

Jeff RUPERT & Richard DREXLER – Imagination – MediaRupe

by Audiophile Audition | Mar 11, 2017 | Jazz CD Reviews

Jeff RUPERT & Richard DREXLER – Imagination – MediaRupe 016 CD, 57:52 (1/2/17) ****: (Jeff Rupert; tenor sax/ Richard Drexler; piano) Two University of Central Florida instructors go deep into a mid-80s Stan Getz bag. It was John Coltrane himself who famously said of his contemporary/rival Stan Getz, “Let’s face it. We would all sound like that if we could.” As it turned out, Coltrane had the more numerous imitators and followers, yet the Getz sound has not lost its magic, nor has the critical esteem for his supreme lyrical gifts waned. They represent nearly unattainable ideals within the jazz tradition. Thus, it is all the more surprising to come upon an Orlando-based musician who has mastered down to the details this style and can pass for a persuasive facsimile of Mr. Getz himself on “Imagination,” a duet with fellow University of Central Florida music program instructor Richard Drexler. The live performance takes place at the White House, an Orlando institution founded by Cirque du Soleil musical director Benoit Glazer. In front of an appreciative crowd, Rupert steps up to the mike and delivers a most exacting personification of Getz at his best on “Without a Song.” Sustained notes contain […]

The Mark MASTERS Ensemble – Blue Skylight – Capri

by Audiophile Audition | Feb 11, 2017 | Jazz CD Reviews

The Mark MASTERS Ensemble – Blue Skylight – Capri 74143-2, 48:33 (2/17/17) ****½: (Gary Foster; alto sax/ Jerry Pinter; tenor and soprano sax/ Gene Cipriano; tenor sax/ Adam Schroeder; baritone sax/ Ron Stout; trumpet/ Les Benedict; trombone/ Ed Czach; piano/ Putter Smith; doublebass/ Kendall Kay; drums ) Outstanding small concert-band arrangements of Monk and Mulligan compositions played by the American Jazz Institute house band. Mark Masters is the president of the American Jazz Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting jazz. The Pasadena-based group maintains an orchestra as well, featuring veteran West Coast players. Perhaps their most vital work, though, is related to archiving the rich lore of jazz composition and promoting new works for performance. What we have in this recording is a collection of tunes by Monk and Mulligan, arranged by Mark Masters himself, and performed by an ensemble under his name. In effect these tunes, are newly-realized pieces rather than gussied up standards. However, plenty of the musical character of the original composers comes through as well, even as the charts are reassembled. On the opening track, Monk, Bunk, and Vice Versa, a lesser known Mingus tune, the head is subjected to polyphonic elaboration. It stops just short […]

Jazz Haunts & Magic Vaults : The New Lost Classics Of Resonance Vol. 1

by Audiophile Audition | Jan 15, 2017 | Jazz CD Reviews

Jazz Haunts & Magic Vaults : The New Lost Classics Of Resonance Vol. 1 HCD-2026, 77:37 ****: A number of tasty offerings designed to entice the most discriminating listeners. (Jaki Byard; Dennis Coffey; Bill Evans; Tommy Flanagan; Stan Getz; João Gilberto; Gene Harris; Shirley Horn; Freddie Hubbard; Thad Jones; Scott LaFaro; Mel Lewis; Charles LLoyd; Wes Montgomery; Sarah Vaughan; Larry Young) In the January 2017 (Issue #171) of The New York City Jazz Record, Resonance Records was chosen as one of the Best Labels of the Year 2016 in the non-profit category. While being a non-profit jazz label might be somewhat of an oxymoron, the owners of the label are to be commended as they have done a yeoman job of unearthing recordings of historical interest and bringing them to the listening public. This compilation Jazz Haunts & Magic Vaults (back in day of LPs, such releases were called samplers) showcases a variety of tracks from either projects that the label already has on the market, or that would be forthcoming. There are a number of tasty offerings that should clearly entice listeners to purchase the entire album, depending on their musical proclivities. The bold-face names who are represented on […]

Rio Bossa – various performers – Le Chant du Monde – 3-CDs

by Audiophile Audition | Oct 3, 2016 | Jazz CD Reviews

A wonderful 3-CD intro to Brazilian jazz. Rio Bossa – various performers [TrackList follows] – Le Chant du Monde 2742394.96 (3-CD box) [Distr. by Harmonia mundi/PIAS] (10/7/16) *****: This is a terrific sampler of the best of Brazilian music from the bossa nova period of the mid-‘50s, which seems to coming back again. There is also a similar Le Chant du Monde boxed set on samba – the two are the real musical soul of Brazilian culture. (We’ll also have a review of it later.) These are the masterminds of bossa nova, including the legendary Antonio Carlos Jobim, Stan Getz, Joao Gilberto, Baden Powell, Luiz Bonfa and others. For my money, Brazil has the best music in the world. Sound is not bad either, though it could be better. These were originally released to tie in with the Brazilian Olympics. And they’re for sale at Amazon for only $9! TrackList: Disc 1: Desafinado Atabaque Chega de saudade Manha de carnaval Lobo bobo so Chora tua tristexa Eurydice Morne boca de ouro Insensatez Bim bom Outra vez Saudade fx um samba Cancao do amor demais Disc 2: Um abraco no Bonfa O pato A Felicidate Samba de minha terra Licao de […]

Baden Powell, guitar – Images On Guitar – MPS vinyl

by Audiophile Audition | Sep 24, 2016 | SACD & Other Hi-Res Reviews

Baden Powell – Images On Guitar – MPS 0210990MSW (1971/2016) stereo vinyl, 41:02 ****: Brazil’s legendary guitarist shines on this vinyl re-mastering! (Baden Powell – guitar, vocals; Janine de Walleye – vocal; Ernesto Gonsalves – bass; Alfredo Bessa – atabaque, percussion; Joaquim Paes Henriques – drums) Baden Powell was an influential guitarist. The Brazilian native (and yes, he was named after Boy Scout founder Robert Baden-Powell) was renowned for his embrace of the emerging bossa nova movement. His influence on music was attributed to the connection of Latin jazz to classical music. He eschewed the electric guitar that permeated music in the ‘50s and ‘60s to concentrate on acoustic. His career took hold when his composition, “Samba Triste” was covered by Stan Getz. Powell was a force in popularizing the 2/4 samba meter, and he started recording as a solo artist in 1961. But it was his early seventies catalog with MPS that globalized his popularity. Images On Guitar was initially released by MPS in 1971. The album featured a quartet with guest vocalist Janine de Walleye. Now there is a 180-gram re-mastered vinyl available. The improved technology translates the artistic vision of Powell. Throughout the recording, he expresses a […]

Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto – Getz/Gilberto ’76 – Resonance / Stan Getz – Moments in Time – Resonance

by Audiophile Audition | Feb 23, 2016 | Jazz CD Reviews

Two more archival historical releases from Resonance Records- Getz/Gilberto ’76 & Moments in Time… Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto – Getz/Gilberto ’76 – Resonance HCD 2021, 55:15 ****: (Stan Getz – tenor sax; Joao Gilberto – vocals, guitar; Joanne Brackeen – piano; Clint Houston – bass; Billy Hart – drums) Stan Getz – Moments in Time – Resonance HCD 2020, 64:41 ****1/2: (Stan Getz – tenor sax; Joanne Brackeen – piano; Clint Houston – bass; Billy Hart – drums) In early 1962 Stan Getz helped bring bossa nova to mainstream American audiences with the Jazz Samba recording with guitarist Charlie Byrd. In March 1964, he furthered the bossa nova craze by bringing famed Brazilian guitarist Joao Gilberto and pianist/composer Antonio Carlos Jobim to New York City to record Getz/Gilberto. It became one of the best selling jazz albums of all time and featured “The Girl from Ipanema” sung by Joao’s wife, Astrud Gilberto. Its intoxicating sensual groove proved irresistible to American audiences. Getz soon returned to straight-ahead jazz as well as fusion, and recorded with Gary Burton, Chick Corea, and Bill Evans. In May 1975, Stan reunited with Gilberto to record The Best of Two Worlds. It was released in […]