Blue Skies

by Stan Getz

Product Description:

Personnel: Stan Getz (tenor saxophone); Jim McNeely (piano); Marc Johnson (bass); Billy Hart (drums).

Recorded at Coast Recorders, San Francisco, California in January 1982. Includes liner notes by Steve Getz and Phil Elwood.

Stan Getz played the tenor saxophone with one of the smoothest tones ever produced. His improvisations always seemed to glide effortlessly over the rhythm section, and his use of space in his solos displayed endless musical maturity. Often, it seemed like Getz transcended soloing altogether, as he seamlessly moved from the tune's melody into his own musical ideas.

BLUE SKIES could not be a better representation of this quality. This 1982 recording begins with the gorgeous ballads "Spring Is Here" and "Antigny," then heats up midway through the record with pianist Jim McNeely's sprightly "There We Go." From here, the disc closes with more breathtaking ballad work on the title track and "How Long Has This Been Going On?" Lesser jazz musicians could never sustain an album of mostly atmospheric ballads, but Getz and company truly excel in this environment. A largely reflective release, this is one of the tenor player's finest later dates.