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Stan Getz: Stan Getz: The Bossa Nova Albums
By
Antonio Carlos Jobim
piano1927 - 1994

Joao Gilberto
vocals1931 - 2019
Verve's box set, Stan Getz: The Bossa Nova Albums, isn't a complete archive of Getz's work in the genrethe omissions include a couple of wonderful and only fitfully available live recordingsbut it brings together five of his most important studio albums. These are Jazz Samba (Verve, 1962), Big Band Bossa Nova (Verve, 1962), Jazz Samba Encore! (Verve, 1963), Getz/Gilberto (Verve, 1964) and Getz/Almeida (Verve, 1966).
The collection presents the albums as they were originally released, with no alternate takes or additional tracks, and with the original sleeve notes (there's no special booklet). Jazz Samba and Getz/Gilberto produced bossa nova's two biggest chart singles"Desafinado" and "The Girl From Ipanema" but the 45-rpm hit versions, included in Verve's 1997 Master Editions of the albums, are not included.


Laurindo Almeida
guitar1917 - 1995

Charlie Byrd
guitar1925 - 1999
Getz took little persuading, recognizing the music on the Brazilian discs as perfect settings for his intensely lyrical improvising style and gorgeously burnished saxophone sound. (In a little known tribute, saxophonist John Coltrane once said, "Of course, we'd all love to sound like Stan.") Getz and bossa nova were made for each other. Vibraphonist

Gary Burton
vibraphoneb.1943
Sadly, Getz and Byrd fell out once "Desafinado" became a hit. Byrdwhose solo was cut from the 2:01 single version, and who was refused a share of royalties by Getz and Verve sued and in an out of court settlement in 1967 received $50,000 and a share in future royalties. But there's much more to Jazz Samba than "Desafinado." Amongst the album's other tunesall but one, Byrd's "Samba Dees Days," written by Brazilian composerswas Jobim and Newton Mendonca's "Samba de Uma Nota So (One Note Samba)," another bossa nova evergreen (revisited on Big Band Bossa Nova and spawning Luiz Bonfa's "Samba De Duas Notas" on Jazz Samba Encore!).
With hindsight, Big Band Bossa Nova, the follow-up to Jazz Samba, seems like a mistake, or at best a diversion. "Desafinado" had yet to go clear and Getz and

Creed Taylor
producer1929 - 2022

Bob Brookmeyer
trombone1929 - 2011

The first two discs include guest vocalistsMaria Toledo on Jazz Samba Encore! and

Astrud Gilberto
vocals1940 - 2023

Getz/Almeida was recorded just two days after Getz/Gilberto, but to Getz's annoyance was not released until 1966, when bossa nova was long past its commercial zenith. Banana is replaced by other drummers, augmented by Luiz Parga and Jose Paulo on percussion, on a purely instrumental set. With most tracks at least around the five minute mark (Jobim's "Once Again" lasts almost seven), and Almeida happier as a songwriter and accompanist than as a soloist, Getz gets more room to stretch out. Jobim contributes two vibrant (and uncredited) piano solos, on the opening "Minina Moca" and closing "Maracatu-Too." The pace is brisk going on fastthe only slow tune is Almeida and Portia Nelson's "Winter Moon"and with Jazz Samba Encore!, the ambiance is more consistently "hot" than on the other three albums. Getz/Almeida is the least known of the final trilogy of albums in this box set, but it's another masterpiece, with its own distinct character.
Personnel
Jazz SambaStan Getz: tenor saxophone; Charlie Byrd: guitar; Keter Betts: bass; Gene Byrd: bass and guitar; Buddy Deppenschmidt: drums; Bill Reichenbach: drums.
Big Band Bossa Nova
Stan Getz: tenor saxophone; Doc Severinsen: trumpet; Bernie Glow: trumpet; Joe Ferrante: trumpet; Clark Terry: trumpet; Nick Travis: trumpet; Ray Alonge: French horn; Tony Studd: trombone; Bob Brookmeyer: trombone; Willis Dennis: trombone; Gerald Safino: flute; Ray Beckenstein: flute; Eddie Caine: alto flute; Ray Beckenstein: clarinet; Babe Clark: clarinet; Walt Levinsky: clarinet; Romeo Penque: bass clarinet; Jim Hall: guitar; Hank Jones: piano; Tommy Williams: bass; Johnny Rae: drums; Jose Paulo: tambourine; Carmen Costa: cabassa.
Jazz Samba Encore!
Stan Getz: tenor saxophone; Luiz Bonfa: guitar; Antonio Carlos Jobim: guitar (1-4, 9), piano (3); George Duvivier: bass (1-4, 9); Tommy Williams: bass (1-4, 9); Don Payne: bass (5-7, 8, 10); Tommy Williams: bass (1-4, 9); Jose Carlos: drums (1-4, 9); Paulo Ferreira: drums (5-7, 8, 10); Dave Bailey: drums (8, 10).
Getz/Gilberto
Stan Getz: tenor saxophone; Joao Gilberto: guitar, vocal; Antonio Carlos Jobim: piano; Astrud Gilberto: vocal; Tommy Williams: bass; Milton Banana: drums.
Getz/Almeida
Stan Getz: tenor saxophone; Laurindo Almeida: guitar; George Duvivier: bass; Edison Machado, Jose Soorez: drums; Dave Bailey: drums; Luiz Parga, Jose Paulo: percussion. ">
Track Listing
Jazz Samba: Desafinado; Samba Dees Days; O Pato; Samba Triste; Samba De Uma Nota So; E Luxo So; Baia.
Big Band Bossa Nova: Manha De Carnival; Balanco No Samba; Melancolico; Entre Amigos; Chega De Saudade; Noite Triste; Samba De Uma Nota So; Bim Bom.
Jazz Samba Encore!: Sambalero; So Danco Samba; Insensatez; O Morro Nao Tem Vez; Samba De Duas Notas; Menina Flor; Mania De Maria; Saudade Vem Correndo; Um Abraco No Getz; Ebony Samba.
Getz/Gilberto: The Girl From Ipanema; Doralice; P'ra Machucar Meu Coracao; Desafinado; Corcovado; So Danco Samba; O Grande Amor; Vivo Sohando.
Getz/Almeida: Minina Moca; Once Again; Winter Moon; Do What You Do Do; Samba Da Sahra; Maracatu-Too.
Personnel
Stan Getz
saxophone, tenorAlbum information
Title: Stan Getz: The Bossa Nova Albums | Year Released: 2008 | Record Label: Verve Music Group
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