STAN GETZ
My Foolish Heart (Label M)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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When Joel Dorn left his post as president of 32 Records, it was with a promise that there were great things to come. Dorn has just released the first new discs on his Label M imprint, and the great things have begun to arrive.

It's amazing that in his monumental career as a producer of jazz and pop recordings that Joel Dorn never worked with Stan Getz. That's not true anymore. Thanks to his arrangement with the keepers of the legendary Left Bank Jazz Society vaults, one of the first discs from Dorn's new label is a 1975 appearance by Stan Getz at Baltimore's Famous Ballroom. Along for the ride are pianist Richie Beirach, bassist Dave Holland and drummer Jack DeJohnette. It's an all-star rhythm section in support of one of the brightest stars in jazz history, and the music fulfills every promise the lineup makes.

Though Getz was best known to the general public as a purveyor of bossa nova and cool sounds, he was hands down one of the best bop players around, and this is a bop session bound to prove the point. Though he was a featured name with a well established catalog of sure crowd pleasers by the time this music was recorded, Getz was hardly standing still. Along with the standard numbers, he seasoned his set with compositions by Chick Corea and Ralph Towner. No matter what he played, though, he had that inimitable tone and taste that separated him from the pack. And though his name on the bill was sure to sell tickets, he was very generous with his sidemen, allowing room for impressive performances from the entire quartet.

Rumours and legends about those Left Bank tape vaults abound. If this is any indication of what's in store, well, get ready to spend some music money on Label M albums.

Track List:

Invitation * Untitled * Spring Is Here * Litha * Lucifer's Fall * My Foolish Heart * Fiesta

© 2000 - Shaun Dale