Jazz

The Stan Getz Quartet @ Chet Baker Quintessence V1 Jazzmp3 320h33tschon55

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The Stan Getz Quartet @ Chet Baker - Quintessence V1
Year: 1983
Release: 1998
Label: Concord Jazz
Time: 51:40
Bitrate: 320 kbps

Two of the most expressive and lyrical musicians in the history of jazz join forces to do what they've always done best: deliver cool, relaxed and swinging renditions of tasty jazz standards. The all-star Stan Getz Quartet rhythm section - Jim McNeely (piano), George Mraz (bass), and Victor Lewis (drums) - provides the perfect backdrop for a quintessential live performance by two of jazz's master craftsmen.

The first volume of the performance which was then published in two discs. In this particular case, the Stan Getz Quartet's guest is the Great musician, vocalist and trumpeter, one of the founders of the Cool Jazz style - Chet Baker. Two geniuses have met only four times (West Coast Live, Stan Meets Chet, Line for Lyons, Quintessence Vol1, Vol2), and this one is the last time - in the autumn of their years, what makes this disc so unique and interesting...

Tenor-saxophonist Stan Getz and trumpeter Chet Baker would have seemed to have been a very musically compatible pair but, because they did not care for each enough personally, they only worked together on three separate occasions. The last such time was for a 1983 European tour. This broadcast from Norway was issued for the first time on this 1998 CD. Baker is heard as a special guest with Getz's quartet (which also includes pianist Jim McNeely, bassist George Mraz and drummer Victor Lewis), taking vocals on the majority of the seven selections; his singing was certainly an acquired taste by this point. In general Getz and Baker sound fine during their solos on such songs as "I'm Old Fashioned," "Star Eyes" and "Stablemates" although few surprises or sparks occur. Solid music that does not quite live up to its potential.
~ Scott Yanow, AMG

Fans of Chet Baker know that the trumpeter and vocalist's career is divided into two distinctly different periods: His elegantly minimalist 1950s work where he helped define the "cool jazz" sound of the period, and his later efforts that were maddeningly inconsistent. This aural document from his later years - recorded in Oslo in 1983 - falls into the latter category, and it's a decidedly mixed bag. Baker's voice is, sadly, far from in its top form, and his vocal performances here on standards like "Just Friends" and "But Not For Me" show him straining. Still, there are plenty of reasons to like this live recording. Stan Getz himself is in fine form throughout, his tenor saxophone tone still as rich and full-bodied as ever (especially on his gorgeous opening solo on "I'm Old Fashioned"), and his backing group (Jim McNeely on piano, George Mraz on bass and Victor Lewis on drums) swings superbly. Baker's trumpet playing was also in much finer form than his voice, and during his better moments here - as on his interplay with Getz on a lovely version of "Star Eyes"--a bit of his old self shines through. ~ Ezra Gale

It is my pleasure to present the seventh Stan Getz recording for Concord Jazz, QUINTESSENCE / Volume 1, recorded in Norway in February, 1983, with Stan's working group at that time: Jim McNeely, piano; George Mraz on bass; and Victor Lewis on drums. The music here appears on CD for the first time, continuing the fine Concord Jazz tradition of premiering the best of Stan Getz's recorded performances.

The collaborations of Getz and Chet Baker have been well documented over the years, beginning with their initial musical associa¬tion on the album "Stan Meets Chet." This CD is the last recording of the two jazz legends together in the autumn of their years.

What is particularly striking about this recording is the ease with which these two veterans weave their lyrical magic in the "story telling" of timeless jazz standards. I feel from time to time that this is almost a lost art - the romanticism, the playfulness, the joy. My father and Chet were the ultimate "cool schoolers" in the time of "swingers" and "bobby-soxers." They knew just how to "lay into a tune" and swing the hell out of it!

Dr. Harris Stratyner, a family friend, follows with some thoughts - then, some brief comments by one of my favorite tenor saxophonists, Joe Marillo from La Jolla, California. In closing, Michael McGovern, an emminent trumpet player, shares his insights into the chemistry at work throughout the program presented here.

I hope you enjoy the music, and be sure to look for Volume 2 of this Getz/Baker recording in the near future. As always, I welcome your feedback and comments on this CD!

A special thanks to Phil Edwards for his genius in the engineering and final mix; to my attorney, Jay Schorenstein; and to John Burk and Kathleen Vance at Concord Records. ~ Steve Getz

Personnel:
Stan Getz, tenor saxophone
Jim McNeely, piano
George Mraz, bass
Victor Lewis, drums,
Chet Baker, trumpet/vocal

The Stan Getz Quartet @ Chet Baker - Quintessence V1 tracks:
01 Intro Announcement 0:42
02 I'm Old Fashioned 6:21 (Jerome Kern / Johnny Mercer)
03 Just Friends 8:35 (Samuel Lewis / John Klenner)
04 Star Eyes 9:21 (Don Raye / Gene DePaul)
05 My Ideal 5:30 (Richard Whiting / Loe Robin / Newell Chase)
06 But Not For Me 10:01 (George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin)
07 Dizzy Atmosphere 3:54 (Dizzy Gillespie)
08 Stablemates 7:16 (Benny Golson)

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