At Birdland 1961 (Previously Unreleased)

These previously unreleased 1961 live performances from Birdland, show Getz bringing his tenor saxophone mastery to new heights in a truly stunning comeback.

It wasnt only music lovers who crowded Stan Getz club performances in New York when he returned to the US in January 1961 after more than two years away in Europe. The young tenor, who had long since extended the already legendary and unorthodox Lester Young line into something of his own, represented an approach that contrasted with the revolutionary turmoil in the jazz of the time. And it was against that background that these unreleased performances were recorded and broadcast live at Birdland during Getz quartet engagement in the fall of that year with Steve Kuhn, Jimmy Garrison and Roy Haynes.

It was a quality group and, with Getz then at a sublime peak of emotional and intellectual balance allied to unfailingly melodic inventiveness, the quartet explored a stimulating program of jazz standards and ballads with a gripping blend of strength, delicacy and subtly nuanced dynamics. Suffused with the leaders eloquent tenor, the sheer beauty of the music often caused a hush to fall over the audience, who must by then have realized that, revolution or not, they were indisputably in the presence of one of the greats.


Tracklisting:
01. Airegin (Sonny Rollins) 6:20
02. Wildwood (Gigi Gryce) 8:35
03. Where Do You Go? (Alec Wilder) 5:47
04. Autumn Leaves (Kosma-Mercer) 9:16
05. Jordu (Clifford Brown) 6:22
06. When the Sun Comes Out (Arlen-Koehler) 7:07
07. Yesterdays Gardenias (Robertson-Cogane-Mysels) 6:33
08. Woodyn You (Dizzy Gillespie) 7:12
09. Jumpin with Symphony Sid (Lester Young) 2:04

Personnel:
Stan Getz (tenor sax); Steve Kuhn (piano); Jimmy Garrison (bass); Roy Haynes (drums). Symphony Sid Torin: M.C.
Recorded live at Birdland, November 11 and 18 (#5-9), 1961.

Note: While you may notice slight imperfections in the sound of these recordings, inherent to the source tapes, they do not subtract at all from the top level performances within.

Recorded from radio broadcasts by Boris Rose

Produced for CD release by Jordi Pujol

24-Bit · Digitally Remastered
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Reviews:

"Stan Getz At Birdland 1961 (Fresh Sound 741) is a special treat for the music is being released for the first time. After two years living in Europe, Getz had just returned to the U.S. and his Jazz Samba bossa nova album had not been released yet. He is teamed with three musicians who had associations with John Coltrane: pianist Steve Kuhn (McCoy Tyner's predecessor with 'Trane), bassist Jimmy Garrison and drummer Roy Haynes (who was Elvin Jones' main sub). While the recording quality of these broadcasts is not flawless, it is decent and the beauty of Getz's luscious tone comes through. He alternates uptempo material with ballads, sounding beautiful and creative throughout."

Scott Yanow -Jazz Around Town, May 2013
Los Angeles Jazz Scene
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"f theres anyone with a more gorgeous tone than Stan Getz, would you please let me know? If todays artists sounded even 33 1/3 as much as he did, Id be content. What weve got here is an extremely rare pair of concerts from November of 1961 in NYC, when Getz had just returned from his 2 year European exile. Hes with an incredible team of Steve Kuhn/p, Jimmy Garrison/b (fresh from Coltrane?!?) and Roy Haynes/dr and they are full of vim on an hour long set. Getz sounds like hes got something to prove on fiery, frenetic and frantic takes of Airgin and Woodyn You. A pair of ballads like Autumn Leaves and Yesterdays Gardenias show the lighter side. The ONLY caveat on this essential disc is that the recording on the first four songs are a bit rough on the lower end (bass and bass drum) making the sound quality a bit of a test at times. For Getz freaks, its a bridge worth crossing."

George W. Harris -May 13, 2013
www.jazzweekly.com

Tracklist