Stan Getz

This 1950 date finds tenor saxophonist Stan Getz, nicknamed ‘the Sound’ for his warm, lyrical tone, grooving nimbly with a variety of backing musicians including pianist Al Haig, bassist Percy Heath, and drummer Roy Haynes. The influence of Lester Young’s breathy approach on a young Getz is fully apparent here as Getz’s phrasing drips with an exceedingly mellifluous tone throughout the set. Although Getz would go on to achieve worldwide fame for his smash-hit, ‘The Girl From Ipanema,’ here we see him honing his chops and developing his trademark sound on several ballad standards, including stellar versions of ‘My Old Flame’ and ‘What’s New.’ A must-have for fans of cool jazz and an essential document in the development of one of the tenor greats, Stan Getz Quartets is now available on vinyl.