Verve Jazz Masters 53: Bossa Nova

Performer: Stan Getz
Artist: Chick Corea; George Duvivier; Antonio Carlos Jobim; Kenny Burrell; Charlie Byrd; Gary Burton; Astrud Gilberto
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: Personnel includes: Stan Getz (tenor saxophone); Joao Gilberto (vocals, guitar); Astrud Gilberto, Maria Toledo (vocals); Gary Burton (vibraphone); Steve Kuhn, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Chick Corea (piano); Gene Byrd (guitar, bass); Kenny Burrell, Laurindo Almeida, Charlie Byrd, Luiz Bonfa (guitar); Gene Cherico, George Duvivier, Tommy Williams, Keter Betts, Ron Carter, Don Payne (bass); Helcio Milito, Dave Bailey, Milton Banana, Joe Hunt, Bill Reichenbach, Buddy Deppenschmidt, Paulo Ferreira, Grady Tate (drums); Edison Machado, Luiz Parga, Jose Paulo, Jose Soorez, Jose Carlos (percussion). Producer: Creed Taylor. Compilation producer: Michael Lang. Recorded between February 13, 1962 and March 21, 1967. Includes liner notes by Bob Blumenthal. Digitally remastered by Gary N. Mayo (Polygram Studios). This is part of the Verve Jazz Masters series. As an entryway into Stan Getz's mid-'60s bossa nova output, this is neither as comprehensive as the four-CD set The Bossa Nova Years, nor as satisfying as the original albums in terms of sequencing and mood. It is, however, acceptable as a sampler to the newcomer, who in any event can re-program the order by grouping together the tracks from each session. All of the five albums contained in the box set are touched upon here, along with one that wasn't, Sweet Rain, which yields an impassioned "O Grande Amor" with Chick Corea on piano. In regard to the two best-known tunes from Getz's bossa nova days, "Desafinado" and "The Girl from Ipanema," Verve chooses to go with alternate versions rather than reissue the hit versions for the 437th time -- which is good. ~ Richard S. Ginell

Tenor saxophonist Stan Getz possessed a full, luxuriant tone and a highly melodic improvisational sense. Though he produced consistently rewarding music for the duration of his near 50-year career, he achieved the greatest success in the early '60s when he led the American part of the bossa nova explosion. Indeed, this brilliant fusion of jazz and Brazilian rhythms yielded the tune, "The Girl From Ipanema," which became one of the biggest selling jazz records in history.

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