John Coltrane summed it up best when he said “everyone wants to sound like Stan Getz.” This single disc collection of various settings between 1949-58 is ample evidence why. His light, warm and fluid tone was the logical progression from Lester Young, and it eventually became the heat seeking missile of the bossa nova movement in the late 50s. Here, Getz is shown for his swing and bop mastery, and it’s inspiring to hear him in such a wide variety of settings and moods.
He leads a hip quartet with a very young pianist named Horace Silver in a bopping “Navy Blue” and bebops with the best with guitarist Jimmy Raney in a highly influential ’51 band for “Jumpin’ With Symphony Sid.” A summit meeting with Dizzy Gillespie and Oscar Peterson’s band gives a smoking “Impromptu” and Getz holds his own with Lionel Hampton and Angelenos Lou Levy/p, Leroy Vinnegar/b and Shelly Manne/dr for a rich “Gladys.”
Oscar Peterson is the piano of choice for a plethora of the sessions, which includes guests Roy Eldridge on “Blues For Janet,” JJ Johnson for “Billie’s Bounce” and Gerry Mulligan with Harry ‘Sweets” Edison on “Chocolate Sundae.” A rare meeting with Count Basie’s orchestra is a treat for a swinging “Nails.” This is a real fun one, and if you’re at all interested in how a tenor sax is supposed to sound like, this is the high water mark.