Stan Getz Quintets: The Clef & Norgan Studio Albums

A masterful player with impeccable technique, flawless intonation, and warm, golden tone, Getz emulated the smooth, flowing tenor stylings of Lester Young. An inveterate swinger and fearless improviser, he was capable of standing toe-to-toe with beboppers like Dizzy Gillespie and Sonny Stitt yet as a ballad interpreter, he was unsurpassed. This richly annotated, luxuriously packaged 3-CD set focuses on the saxophonist’s cool, swinging sides and gorgeous ballad playing in small group settings on the Clef, Norgram, and Verve labels from the early 1950s. Tracks from Stan Getz Plays and The Artistry of Stan Getz shows his rare rapport with guitarist Jimmy Raney, pianist Duke Jordan, bassist Bill Crow, and drummer Frank Isola on burners like “The Way You Look Tonight” and “Lover Come Back to Me” and relaxed swingers like “How Deep Is The Ocean,” “Body and Soul,” “Thanks for the Memory,” and “Stars Fell on Alabama.” Getz’s special blend with mellow-tone trombonist Bob Brookmeyer is documented on sublime readings of “Have You Met Miss Jones,” “Willow Weep for Me,” and “The Nearness of You.” Drumming great Max Roach also appears on six tracks on this stellar must-have compilation.