STAN GETZ QUINTET - The Complete Interpretations Sessions
Essential Jazz Classics EJC55661 (2 CD set)
CD One
Stan Getz ( tnr ) Bob Brookmeyer ( val. tmb ) John Williams ( pno ) Teddy Kotick ( bass ) Frank Isola ( drs )
Recorded Los Angeles, 27th July 1953 to 22nd August 1953
CD Two
Track one
As CD One Recorded Los Angeles, 27th July 1953
Tracks 2 to 8
Stan Getz ( tnr ) Bob Brookmeyer ( val tmb ) John Williams ( pno ) Bill Anthony ( bass ) Frank Isola
( drs )
Recorded Los Angeles, 9th November 1954
Bonus Tracks 9 to 12
Stan Getz ( tnr ) Bob Brookmeyer ( val tmb ) John Williams ( pno ) Bill Crow ( bass ) Al Levitt ( drs )
Recorded New York, 16th April 1953
Track 13
Stan Getz ( tnr ) Tony Fruscella ( tpt ) John Williams ( pno ) Bill Anthony ( bass ) Frank Isola ( drs )
Recorded Los Angeles, 31st January 1955
All these tracks have been available in one form or another over the years but this is the first time they have been issued complete. The “Interpretation” tracks were initially issued as three 10 inch LPs, the four tracks recorded on 9th November 1954 is the complete session and the single track “Round Up Time” was one of two tracks recorded that day, the other “Blue Belle” does not feature on this release.
The pianist John Williams is present on all tracks and is the ideal for this group with his chunky but effective style. In the new notes in the booklet the writer confuses the pianist with the John Williams who writes film scores, a little more research may have helped.
The valve trombonist Bob Brookmeyer is an ideal partner for Getz and it is reputed that neither is the easiest person to get on with but the music they recorded together shows no trace of this.
The “Interpretations” tracks have a nice mixture of standards and originals by Bob Brookmeyer, Johnny Mandel and Count Basie and Jimmy Mundy.
The opening track on Disc One is the rarely heard Irving Berlin song “Love and the Weather” has a nice light swing to it with both Brookmeyer and Getz contributing to the success of the piece. “Varsity Drag” has a light hearted feel to it and I would think the group would have had fun recording this track.
The very hard swinging number “Flamingo” is credited in the notes to the 9th November 1954 studio Session but was in fact recorded the previous day at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, the end of Duke Ellington’s opening introduction has been left on which is the give away. It was recorded the following day in the studio but is not that version.
The four bonus tracks from the April 1954 session are a welcome addition, three of the four tracks are original compositions by Bob Brookmeyer and include two of his best, “Rustic Hop” and “Cool Mix”. The single track “Round Up Time” which has Tony Fruscella on trumpet adds to his very sparse catalogue of available recorded work.
This release covers a period in the recording career of Stan Getz when he was at the top of his form and to have these sessions in one collection is a bonus for anyone who admires his work.
Reviewed by Roy Booth
Essential Jazz Classics EJC55661 (2 CD set)
CD One
Stan Getz ( tnr ) Bob Brookmeyer ( val. tmb ) John Williams ( pno ) Teddy Kotick ( bass ) Frank Isola ( drs )
Recorded Los Angeles, 27th July 1953 to 22nd August 1953
CD Two
Track one
As CD One Recorded Los Angeles, 27th July 1953
Tracks 2 to 8
Stan Getz ( tnr ) Bob Brookmeyer ( val tmb ) John Williams ( pno ) Bill Anthony ( bass ) Frank Isola
( drs )
Recorded Los Angeles, 9th November 1954
Bonus Tracks 9 to 12
Stan Getz ( tnr ) Bob Brookmeyer ( val tmb ) John Williams ( pno ) Bill Crow ( bass ) Al Levitt ( drs )
Recorded New York, 16th April 1953
Track 13
Stan Getz ( tnr ) Tony Fruscella ( tpt ) John Williams ( pno ) Bill Anthony ( bass ) Frank Isola ( drs )
Recorded Los Angeles, 31st January 1955
All these tracks have been available in one form or another over the years but this is the first time they have been issued complete. The “Interpretation” tracks were initially issued as three 10 inch LPs, the four tracks recorded on 9th November 1954 is the complete session and the single track “Round Up Time” was one of two tracks recorded that day, the other “Blue Belle” does not feature on this release.
The pianist John Williams is present on all tracks and is the ideal for this group with his chunky but effective style. In the new notes in the booklet the writer confuses the pianist with the John Williams who writes film scores, a little more research may have helped.
The valve trombonist Bob Brookmeyer is an ideal partner for Getz and it is reputed that neither is the easiest person to get on with but the music they recorded together shows no trace of this.
The “Interpretations” tracks have a nice mixture of standards and originals by Bob Brookmeyer, Johnny Mandel and Count Basie and Jimmy Mundy.
The opening track on Disc One is the rarely heard Irving Berlin song “Love and the Weather” has a nice light swing to it with both Brookmeyer and Getz contributing to the success of the piece. “Varsity Drag” has a light hearted feel to it and I would think the group would have had fun recording this track.
The very hard swinging number “Flamingo” is credited in the notes to the 9th November 1954 studio Session but was in fact recorded the previous day at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, the end of Duke Ellington’s opening introduction has been left on which is the give away. It was recorded the following day in the studio but is not that version.
The four bonus tracks from the April 1954 session are a welcome addition, three of the four tracks are original compositions by Bob Brookmeyer and include two of his best, “Rustic Hop” and “Cool Mix”. The single track “Round Up Time” which has Tony Fruscella on trumpet adds to his very sparse catalogue of available recorded work.
This release covers a period in the recording career of Stan Getz when he was at the top of his form and to have these sessions in one collection is a bonus for anyone who admires his work.
Reviewed by Roy Booth
