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Stan Getz (born Stanley Gayetski; February 2, 1927) was a American Jazz tenor saxophonist. Stan Getz was known affectionately referred to as "The Sound" because of his style of music,that being described as warm, and lyrical in tone: His influence being the wispy, mellow timbre of his idol, Lester Young.
Getz came to prominence in the 1940s with Woody Herman's Big Band, and has been described on many of occasions as one of the all-time great tenor saxophonists". Getz performed in many styles over the years “Bebop”, and with many “cool”groups. Influenced by João Gilberto, and AntônioCarlos Jobim, he popularized the romantic style of “Bossa Nova”in America and made a name for himself with the hit single "The Girl from Ipanema" (1964).
In the mid to late 1950sworking from Scandinavia, Getz became popular playing that style referred to as “Cool Jazz” along with the likes of Horace Silvers, Johnny Smith, and Oscar Peterson to name but a few.
Returning to the U.S. In 1961 from his days in Europe days, Getz became a central figure in introducing "Bossa Nova” music to the American audience by teaming with guitarist Charlie Byrd who too just returned from a US State Department sponsored tour of Brazil: Getz recorded “Jazz Samba” in 1962 and it quickly became a hit. Later on, he then recorded the album“Getz/Gilberto”,and in 1963 teamed up with with the great Brazilian composer,pianist, songwriter, arranger and singer, Antônio Carlos Jobim. Later on Getz began to move away from “Bossa Nova” and back to“Cool Jazz”, however, while still working with the Gilbertos' (husband and wife) he also recorded the jazz album “Nobody Else but Me” in1964. Later on with a new quartet including Vibraphonist Gary Burton he recorded a different style of musical jazz, but his then music label Verve Records, wishing to continue building the Getz brand with “Bossa Nova”, refused to release it: It came out 30 years later, after Getz had died.
In 1972, Getz recorded the jazz fusion album “Captain Marvel” featuring Chick Corea, Tony Williams, and Stanley Clarke. In 1986, he was inducted into the “Down Beat” Jazz Hall OF Fame. In 1988, Getz even worked with Huey Lewis and the News on their “Small World” album.
Jazz Saxophonist Stan Getz passed away on June 6,1991 of liver cancer, and his ashes were poured from his saxophone case six miles off the coast of Marina Del Ray, CA.
Here now, his famous piece from 1964, “The Girl From Ipanema”:
Part of a concert in Stockholm Feb. 18 1983:
Be safe out there.
