Search - Stan Getz, Chet Baker :: Stockholm Concerts

Stan's good, Chet can't sing on-key. Program your CD player!

rash67 | USA | 02/05/1999

(3 out of 5 stars)

"A very problematic set. Soaring romantic ballads and happy swing tunes in places, unlistenable singing in others. All in all, much better than the new "Quintessential V.1" (Concord) CD with the same principals. Everyone thought Stan Getz and Chet Baker would make the ideal group, both associated with "Cool" jazz.Unfortunately, they hated each other. Stan was off the drugs, at this point in his life and Chet continued to take them til the day he died.Stan, the consumate professional, was almost always able to play sober or sound that way. After the 50's, Chet always seems high and incapable of singing on-key. According to the liner notes, Stan got so annoyed with Chet's intonation problems he told the producer "him or me" and stormed off. The CD's are good when Stan plays (70% of the songs), unlistenable when Chet sings(20%). When they play together, it's a dog fight with Stan pushing the tempo's to lose Chet (10%).Some of the Stan Getz only portion of this CD was available "The Stockholm Concert" on Gazell.Recording quality is quite good."

Two jazz greats together again!

Paul S. Remington | Rochester, NY USA | 11/24/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When I first purchased this material way-back in the early '80s I didn't know what to make of it. I was a Getz fan but didn't know who this trumpet player was who played with him. I listened to it and immediately loved it, that is, until Chet began to sing. I said to myself, "Oh my God... that has to be the worst voice I've ever heard." It seemed comical to me, at the time. I recorded the entire LP and edited-out all Chet's singing.Fast-forward about five years; I was then in my mid-20s. I decided to give that LP a listen again, since it had been a few years since I last heard it. I had been exploring jazz quite heavily the previous five years and my tastes had changed.As expected, I loved the LP. Then Chet began to sing... I listened. On Just Friends he began to scat... I listened and for the first time I got it! I mean, I was totally blown away by his ideas. I looped his scatting, playing the solo over and over, digesting it and committing it to memory. I listened to jazz with the ear of a musician, since I had been taking jazz guitar at the time and was learning the art of the solo.What made Chet so great in his later years was his seasoned execution and mature building of solos. His solos are often built upon simplicity; the concept that "less is more." You'll notice he effectively uses space when soloing and throws-in lots of notes only when necessary. This use of space is difficult to use well. It's not something that's taught -- it's felt and is a gift to the most talented of musicians. Chet oozed talent. He didn't read music and had a golden ear. This can be heard when soloing, whether on trumpet or by voice.A few years back I saw this CD in the store and realized it was the complete concert series from that LP I purchased some 18 years earlier. I bought it and listened to the whole thing in one sitting. I thought it was fantastic! Stan and Chet sound great, as always, and the crowd is responsive and appreciative.The rhythm section is Stan Getz' regular touring group at the time. So, what we have here is the Stan Getz quartet with Chet Baker. The group is top-shelf: Jim McNeely (piano), George Mraz (bass), and Victor Lewis (drums).A high quality gatefold package is used to house the three CDs and the inside of the left fold contains a booklet with the story behind the music, reproductions of the hand-written set lists with timing indicators, lots of pictures of Stan and Chet in action, and even a letter to Getz regarding the performance. The material was originally released in part on two separate LPs. Both the original releases are shown towards the end of the booklet along with the complete liner notes.The concert series was faithfully recorded for posterity and wonderfully packaged for release. If you're a fan of great jazz, enjoy either Chet or Stan as musicians, this is a must-have!"