Life in Jazz: A Musical Biography

Personnel includes: Stan Getz (tenor saxophone); Hershey Kay, Frank Devol (conductor); Joao Gilberto (vocals, guitar); Astrud Gilberto, Ella Fitzgerald, Abbey Lincoln (vocals); J.J. Johnson (trombone); Bob Brookmeyer (valve trombone); Alan Martin, Gerald Tarack (violin); Jacob Glick (viola); Bruce Rogers (cello); Gary Burton (vibraphone); Oscar Peterson, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Chick Corea, Kenny Barron, Duke Jordan, Hank Jones, Steve Kuhn (piano); Herb Ellis, Jimmy Raney (guitar); John Neves, Ray Brown, Tommy Williams, Ron Carter, Rufus Reid, Bill Crow, Gene Cherico, Charlie Haden (bass); Connie Kay, Milton Banana, Grady Tate, Victor Lewis, Frank Isola, Joe Hunt, Mark Johnson, Roy Hanes (drums).
Producers: Creed Taylor, Norman Granz, Ib Skovgaard, Jean-Philippe Allard.
Compilation producer: Aric Lach Morrison.
Recorded between 1952 and 1991. Includes liner notes by Donald Maggin.
Digitally remastered by Gary N. Mayo (Polygram Studios).
Composer: Frank DeVol.
Personnel: Stan Getz (tenor saxophone); Joao Gilberto (vocals, guitar); Gerald Tarack (vocals, violin); Ella Fitzgerald, Abbey Lincoln, Astrud Gilberto (vocals); Herb Ellis, Jimmy Raney (guitar); Alan Martin (violin); Jacob Glick (viola); Bruce Rogers (cello); Bob Brookmeyer (trombone, valve trombone); J.J. Johnson (trombone); Chick Corea, Duke Jordan, Hank Jones , Kenny Barron, Oscar Peterson, Steve Kuhn , Antônio Carlos Jobim (piano); Gary Burton (vibraphone); Frank Isola, Connie Kay, Grady Tate, Joe Hunt , Mark Johnson , Milton Banana, Roy Haynes, Victor Lewis (drums).
Recording information: BMG Studios, New York, NY (12/29/1952-03/06/1991); Englewood Cliffs, NJ (12/29/1952-03/06/1991); Montmartre Jazzhus, Copenhagen, Denmark (12/29/1952-03/06/1991); New York, NY (12/29/1952-03/06/1991); San Francisco, CA (12/29/1952-03/06/1991); Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, CA (12/29/1952-03/06/1991); Van Gelder Studios, Englewood Cliffs, NJ (12/29/1952-03/06/1991).
Photographer: Herman Leonard.
Unknown Contributor Role: Frank DeVol & His Orchestra.
Arrangers: Eddie Sauter; Frank DeVol.
This sampler of Stan Getz's Verve recordings was released at the same time (in 1996) as a definitive biography also titled A Life in Jazz. The 11 selections are all excellent but would have been more effective if released in chronological order. There are three numbers from the 1950s, five from the '60s, one from 1987 and two from 1991 including a version of "Night and Day" that is taken from the tenor's final recording session. Highlights include "Billie's Bounce" (a 1957 collaboration with trombonist J.J. Johnson), "Corcovado" from the Getz/Gilberto album and "Summertime" with Gary Burton; there is also a guest shot with Abbey Lincoln. All of the selections are available elsewhere but this CD serves as a good introduction to Stan Getz's musical magic. ~ Scott Yanow