Search - Stan Getz :: Reflections

A break from Bossa Nova

kevin | Ontario, Canada | 04/24/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I've owned this controversial album for years and have always enjoyed it. The arrangements are interesting, with alot (sometimes too much) back-up from vocals and strings. However, it seems to me that Stan Getz puts more into his playing on this disc than he does on the formulaic bossa nova albums of the same period. Worth the small price just to hear Stan's version of "Blowing in the Wind"."

Hit and Miss But Not Without Its Gems

P. McKenna | Atlanta GA | 11/02/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This was a demonstration that Stan Getz refused to be boxed into any one area of music and for that he deserves tons of credit. Whether it was lilting bossa-nova or unique classically-infused outings like the brilliant "Focus", Stan was indeed taking risks. On "Reflections", he goes for a more commercial pop angle and succeeds about half the time, not because of his playing so much as Claus Ogerman's arrangements which can range to very thoughtful and colorful to outright schlock that gets DANGEROUSLY close to Ray Conniff Singers territory.



The real gems include "Moonlight In Vermont" with its sweeping arrangement, "Love" with its fiery percolating Latin rhythms and Stan just letting loose, "Spring Can Hang You Up The Most" and "Nite Street" are real highlights too with tastefully swinging arrangements. "Charade" is a better than average Bossa tune and "Penthouse Serenade" is a real ear opener with its tricky 6/8 heavily syncopated meter and Stan just coloring it like an expert painter.



The rest of the album goes more than a little saccharine and as much as I"ve tried I just CANNOT GET BEHIND this schlock-treatment of Bob Dylan's "Blowin' In The Wind", it just does not work! "A Sleeping Bee" is just too bogged down in Ray Conniff-esque vocal choruses to be listenable, ARRRRRRGH!



If anything, I'd recommend downloading the individual mp3 tracks that you like."