For those unaware, Stan Getz is widely regarded as one of the all-time great jazz tenor saxophonists, coming to the fore in the bebop era of the late 1940s and early ’50s, and becoming a pioneer of the west coast cool school of jazz musicians, helping to popularize Latin forms like the bossa nova within the idiom.

During the mid-1950s, while recording for Norman Granz’s Norgran and Verve labels, and with the long-playing vinyl LP era now under way, he recorded many sessions and projects in collaboration with other like-minded musicians and bandleaders, which resulted in a string of notable albums.

This 44-track 4-CD set comprises titles from the classic Verve albums Interpretations with Bob Brookmeyer, Diz And Getz with Dizzy Gillespie, Hamp And Getz with Lionel Hampton, West Coast Jazz with Conte Candoli, The Steamer with his Quartet, Sittin’ In with Dizzy Gillespie and Coleman Hawkins, Stan Getz & The Oscar Peterson Trio, and Getz Meets Mulligan with Gerry Mulligan.

The creative stimulus provided by these encounters naturally makes for some fascinating and high-class jazz. Apart from the main collaborators, the performances feature many other notable musicians of the day, and it makes for a substantial and hugely entertaining collection.

For me personally, listening to this brilliant 4CD set as I type, I am blown away at how much of an impeccable player, instantly recognizable, and surprisingly versatile he was. Known for playing cool, he could heat it up when he wanted without losing any control, always choosing the best notes at the right time.

Getz was more than just a romantic vibe. Much like Desmond was a lot more than that also. He was a prominent jazz tenor saxophonist in his on right along Dexter Gordon, John Coltrane, Joe Henderson, etc. Arguably he and Coltrane may be the two most important and greatest tenor saxophonists in jazz. Both knew their instruments in and out and were fantastic interpreters of any material laid before them.

CD 1:
1. Love And The Weather 2. Spring Is Here 3. Crazy Rhythm 4. Willow Weep For Me 5. Pot Luck 6. The Nearness Of You 7. Girl Of My Dreams 8. It Don’t Mean A Thing 9. It’s The Talk Of The Town 10. Siboney 11. Exactly Like You 12. I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart 13. Impromptu

CD 2:
1. Cherokee 2. Louise 3. Ballad Medley 4. Jumpin At The Woodside 5. Gladys 6. Four 7. East Of The Sun 8. A Night In Tunisia 9. Suddenly It’s Spring 10. Summertime

CD 3:
1. Shine 2. Blues For Mary Jane 3. There’ll Never Be Another You 4. You’re Blasé 5. Too Close For Comfort 6. Like Someone In Love 7. How About You 8. Dizzy Atmosphere 9. Ballad Medley 1

CD 4:
1. Pennies From Heaven 2. There’s No You (I’m Glad There’s You) 3. I Was Doing All Right 4. Tour’s End 5. Bronx Blues 6. I Want To Be Happy 7. That Old Feeling 8. This Can’t Be Love 9. Ballad 10. Let’s Fall In Love 11. Too Close For Comfort 12. Anything Goes

Official Purchase Link

www.stangetz.net