Stan Getz
Stan Getz, born Stanley Getz on February 2, 1927, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was a renowned American jazz tenor saxophonist celebrated for his role in the "cool school" of jazz. Known for his mellow and lush tone, Getz began playing the saxophone at age 13 and made his professional debut at 15. He played with notable bands, including those led by Jack Teagarden, Stan Kenton, Jimmy Dorsey, and Benny Goodman. His major breakthrough came with Woody Herman's Second Herd orchestra, where he became one of the "Four Brothers" and gained acclaim for his solos on "Four Brothers" (1947) and "Early Autumn" (1948).
Throughout his career, Getz led various quartets and quintets, featuring musicians like Horace Silver and Jimmy Raney. He was prominently featured on Johnny Smith's hit "Moonlight in Vermont" in 1952. After living in Europe from 1958 to 1961, he returned to the U.S. and recorded the album Focus with Eddie Sauter, considered a masterpiece. Getz played a pivotal role in popularizing bossa nova in the U.S. with the album Jazz Samba (1962) alongside Charlie Byrd, and later with the landmark album Getz/Gilberto (1963), which included the hit "The Girl from Ipanema."
Despite his association with bossa nova, Getz rarely revisited the genre after the early 1960s, instead exploring collaborations with artists like Bill Evans and Chick Corea. He experimented with rock and fusion elements in the late 1960s and 1970s. Getz's personal life was tumultuous, marked by struggles with addiction and legal issues, yet his musical legacy remains influential. He passed away on June 6, 1991, in Malibu, California, leaving behind a rich discography and a lasting impact on jazz music.
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