Stan Getz & Astrud Gilberto/ The Lost Recordings


BY NARENDRA KUSNUR

Stan Getz & Astrud Gilberto/ The Lost Recordings

Genre: Jazz

Label: The Lost Recordings

Rating: **** 1/2

One of the best tenor saxophonists in jazz, Stan Getz also did some amazing work in Latin music, specially bossa nova. His rendition of the compositions of Antonio Carlos Jobim, most notably ‘The Girl From Ipanema’, ‘Corvocado’ and ‘Desafinado’, are classics.

Getz had worked with Brazilian singer Astrud Gilberto in the early 1960s, though he collaborated more with her husband Joao, including the iconic Getz/ Gilberto album. Astrud Gilberto’s career took an upward spiral after that, and though the two didn’t play for almost two years, they came back for this show at the Berlin Jazz Festival in November 1966. This previously-unreleased set thus makes for a collector’s item, specially for Getz fans.

Astrud, in fact, appears only in the second half, and in the first, Getz plays with the phenomenal vibraphonist Gary Burton, bassist Chuck Israel and drummer Roy Haynes. In fact, when this concert was held, Burton was only 23.

The youngster dazzles towards the end of the Miles Davis composition ‘On Green Dolphin Street’, and quickly follows up on the opening part of ‘The Singing Song’. Burton is also the featured artiste on ‘Edelweiss’ from The Sound Of Music soundtrack, though his interpretation sounds quite different in the middle half.

The set list is a mix of jazz standards, popular pieces and bossa nova beauties. Getz is at his melodic best on the Jobim piece ‘O Grande Amor’, getting into Latin jazz mood again on the ‘Desafinado’ excerpt. The standard ‘The Shadow Of Your Smile’ appears in two versions, instrumental and vocal.

For her part, Astrud Gilberto does a mix of Portuguese and English, excelling on ‘Corvocado’ and ‘The Telephone Song’, which she had recorded herself. Expectedly ‘The Girl From Ipanema’ comes at the end, followed by the encore of Bob Brookmeyer’s ‘Jive Hoot’, with Haynes’ energetic drum solo.

Spread over an hour and 22 minutes, the 16-track set keeps you engrossed. It’s ideal listening for both those new to Getz and those familiar with his work.

 

 

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