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Stan Getz VOYAGE

A long time Getz fan, this one slipped under my radar until a couple of days ago when I found a vinyl copy at a street sale. One of the greatest jazz records I have heard in quite some time, I can't recommend it highly enough. Getz is in top form, and exceptionally poetic in his playing. He proves once again that saxophone playing can be hip and contemporary, while still sounding velvety, and not as if the horn is about to split at the seams. The rhythm section is superb in every respect. Victor Lewis on drums, George Mraz on bass, are outstanding. But it is pianist Kenny Barron who steals the show on this session. Check out his incredible solo on the opening cut "Wanted to Say"; it is a model of logic and thematic development while swinging his a** off.

This 1986, Blackhawk release is sonically terrific. Producer Herb Wong was obviously inspired by the feeling of the music in the choices he made. The sound is detailed enough, but velvety with a rich bottom end, and no hint of shrillness. Not "audiophile grade" hyper-detailing here, but extremely listenable. After a recent disappointing rash of very noisy used record purchases, my copy of this pressing is very quiet, and consistent. There are three copies of this lp on ebay as I write, including one with an "Excellent" grading. Check this one out, you won't be disappointed.

Enjoy.
frogman
frogman OP
7,372 posts
 
Bingo!
roxy54's avatar
roxy54
7,753 posts
 
Agree with both of you...different from one another, but both excellent.
ferrari
617 posts
 
For those of you that may be interested Mosaic is gettin g ready to release a 4 LP set.


Stan Getz: The 1953-54 Norgran Studio Sessions (4 Audiophile LPs)

"Like many of his generation, Getz was drawn to the subdued, airy tone and relaxed phrasing of Lester Young, and found a way to combine it with the advancements of bebop. His triumph was in forging a musical signature that remained fresh and stylistically flexible, even as new styles and musical ideas came and went." - Ashley Khan, liner notes

One of our favorite exercises at Mosaic is to identify wonderful, forgotten little pockets in a great artist’s discography. A perfect example is the 1953-54 Stan Getz Quintet with Bob Brookmeyer which we shelved because it was too small even for a Mosaic Select. But after we launched a new, focused vinyl-only series of 3 and 4-LP sets, it became the perfect candidate.

Chronologically, these sessions for Norman Granz fell just after the quintet dates with Raney, before Getz had risen to the dizzying heights of extreme popularity and when he was still basking in the glow of his stint as part of Woody Herman’s Four Brothers saxophone section. Released on the Clef and Norgran labels just at the transition from 10-inch to 12-inch LPs, the tracks got recycled on Verve across many records, were combined with other songs from other dates, or were forgotten entirely.

Now, for the first time in decades, they are available again on LP. Three alternate takes buried in the vaults, and a recording of "Pot Luck" initially released on 78 only, appear on LP for the first time ever. It’s a great retrospective of the music of a man who reached an almost unparalleled position in jazz and widespread, international celebrity.

The group on these Norgran sessions was a real working band, and valve trombonist Bob Brookmeyer’s soloing ability was up to the task of matching Getz’s standards. His musical pairing with Brookmeyer was one of those inspired arrangements that produced exceptional music.

The 180-gram pressings of this 4-LP set were mastered from analog sources using the original Clef/Norgran master tapes.

Limited Edition: 5,000 (4 Audiophile LPs - $100)
frogman OP
7,372 posts
 
Thanks Ferrari; should be great.
toudou's avatar
toudou
84 posts
 
Definitely, placing my order for that one! I have a few Mosaic Records box set, and found them to be exquisite.
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