Search - Stan Getz :: Stan Getz & Cool Sounds (Spec Packaging)

Cool Sounds, Not a Cool Product

Michael B. Richman | Portland, Maine USA | 06/18/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I love Stan Getz, and "Cool Sounds" is a collection of great music he made between 1953-55. But the release of this limited edition CD is definitely not cool! The reason is that the disc's first four tracks have already been released as bonus tracks on the CD of "West Coast Jazz" (see my review). See, when "Cool Sounds" originally came out on vinyl, it was a collection of outtakes and abbreviated sessions packaged together to further capitalize on Getz's soaring popularity. But now in the era of the compact disc, these selections should be issued as bonus tracks along with other material recorded at the time of their creation, as was already done on "West Coast Jazz." What the folks at Verve should have done instead of reissuing "Cool Sounds" was reissue the long out-of-print "More West Coast Jazz," and include tracks 5-9 from this disc as bonus tracks. Now that would have been cool!"

Yes, cooooooooool sounds!

Jazzcat | Genoa, Italy Italy | 09/09/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Three stars for this masterpiece could be a greatly misleading rating even if the reviewer take his time to explain that he's judging the product, not the music. I will talk about the music instead. It is surely one of the best albums in the whole Getz enormous discography, full of gems by the way. You can buy it easily, you will not be disappointed, it's impossible. Getz swings lightly here, he flies over a perfect accompainment. In the first four tracks it is provided by a stellar west coast combo, Shelly Manne drums, Leroy Vinnegar double bass, Lou Levy piano. Impressive. It's simply a marvel. West coast jazz at its best, swinging, relaxing, coooooooool west coast jazz to die for. The year is 1955. Then you have 6 more tunes with different personnel. Bob Brookmeyer valve trobone, Tony Fruscella trumpet (they don't play in the same tunes, Fruscella palys only in "Blue bells" and "Roundup time"), Max Roach drums and lesser player. The program is composed only by standards plus an original by Brookmeyer at the end of the record. Getz sounds always perfect in his music, sometimes at least too perfect but a little bit cold (not cool, I mean cold). Art Pepper was of this same idea, "Stan's perfect but too cold" he used to say. I agree. But here Getz played so well that you almost can forget his perfectionism and enjoy fully his enormous talent and impeccable swing. "Cool sounds" is truly one of his best records. Be aware that this same music is contained in the West coast 3 cd box by Stan too. I own both. This cover is something you can't miss if you (like myself) love fifties records."

Fine "West Coast" Jazz

W. Giles | 01/29/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Man, who cares if some of the selections on this CD are on another collection! This is some fine "cool" jazz for those who like that style. The low-key understated playing by Getz on this disc would be a perfect addition to the collection of anyone who is a "west coast" or "cool" jazz listener."