Search - Stan Getz :: Groovin High

Getz, Live, with some serious players

douglasnegley | Pittsburgh, Pa. United States | 09/09/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Once again, this is one I have on LP, but it only contains 4 tracks! So maybe the extra 8 cuts may be worth the price of admission to this import. A Live recording, originally on Crown, the concert was held on the West Coast in 1948, and features Wardell Grey, Sonny Criss, Charlie Shavers, Willie Smith, Louis Bellson, Oscar Moore, Red Norvo, Dodo Marmarosa (misidentified as a Philadelphian, instead of the Pittsburgher he was), and a rather cryptic monniker "Nature Boy" as the other piano player. Careful listening makes me guess that it was Errol Garner, but that's just a guess - he was a Pittsburgher as well. This has the feel of a throw-together jam session, but with all of these players you can imagine what kind it is. The sound is rather "Hall-like", and I wonder just how much remastering can do for it - but I wouldn't bet on it not being a lot better, let alone 8 more tracks. I'd like to hear a sample or two before pluncking down this kind of paper, though. Oh well, I still have the LP..."