My Foolish Heart: Live at the Left Bank

My Foolish Heart: Live at the Left Bank

ASIN: B00023GG26

Track Listings

1. Invitation

2. Untitled

3. Spring Is Here

4. Litha

5. Lucifer's Fall

6. My Foolish Heart

7. Fiesta

Tracks:

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

Amazon.com

Stan Getz will always be remembered for Getz/Gilberto--that and his big, beautiful tone. While the saxophonist's bossa nova period was only a couple of years long, his singular sound served him well throughout his 50-year career. Recorded by the Left Bank Jazz Society, My Foolish Heart documents a 1975 date with Getz in fine form, backed by the powerhouse rhythm section of pianist Richie Beirach, bassist Dave Holland, and drummer Jack DeJohnette. Getz sounds surprisingly hale on the five uptempo numbers, playing his horn with fire and endurance. Ballads "Spring Is Here" and "My Foolish Heart" are given Getz's typically tender readings--he wrings every bit of emotion out of these tunes, as the trio holds back and gives him room to work. The four finish the hourlong set with a fun calypso number, "Fiesta," which brings things to a close on satisfying, uplifting note. A great set, this is an opportunity to hear Getz in a never-before-released performance that boasts an uncommonly stellar band. The sound is a tad rough, but Getz's big horn cuts through it all. --Tad Hendrickson

Customer Reviews:

A 'Must Have' in anyone's jazz collection.......2006-12-10

Getz, popularly known for his forays into Bossa Nova, shows his true strength as a straight ahead improvisor on this gem. Considering it was recorded on a small tape recorder and the tapes sat in storage until 2000 the sound quality is remarkable. The soundstage is quite acceptable through my high-end system. The bass is rendered clearly and without any sloppy overemphasis added in the mastering. DeJohnette's energized drums are rendered center/left but it doesn't distract from the listening experience. The piano has very nice impact and clarity, stage right. The previous reviewer's comment that it's really Corea on piano is plausible - sounds like him. The crowd sounds add a nice ambiance but aren't overbearing. Getz sounds as good here as I've ever heard him, perhaps energized by the live setting. Rated four stars for the slight shortcomings in the recording and five stars for the performance. This is a mature master of the tenor saxophone in full voice.

Chick Corea- Not Richie Beirach.......2001-03-05

The pianist on this recording is Chick Corea. Just wanted to clear that up. "Litha" is a classic, a great version here.

Time Machine, Getz please!.......2000-10-01

Let me start by saying I'm not old enough to have seen Stan Getz live. I have, however, discovered his music, and am undoubtedly thankful for it. My first encounter was what I'd venture to guess the typical initial experience with Getz. The sweet, breezy sounds of Getz/Gilberto. Since then I have picked up Captain Marvel, Quiet Now and a few others. My most recent purchase being My Foolish Heart, a "live" recording made in the mid-70s and just recently issued for the first time. All I have to say is I'm damn blown away. Getz has never sounded this alive to me before. It's as if I jumped aboard a time machine and was sitting four tables back from the stage. "Invitation" and "Lucifer's Fall" soar and swoop with harmonic dynamics that I've rarely heard in Stan's playing. "Spring Is Here" and "My Foolish Heart" are two gorgeous versions of well-worn standards, so good that the hair on the back of my neck stands up. While that big fat tone is right on the mark, it's forgoes the laid back, west coast tag that's often associated with Getz. It's visceral this time around.

I could only imagine what it would have been like to see this master at work, and this disc goes along way in sparking my imagination.

Stan captured live at Baltimore's Left Bank Famous Ballroom........2000-09-29

This is another posthumous discovery by the greatest Sax player who ever lived.

A "live" recording done at the Baltimore Left Bank Jazz Society, May '75. As such, it contains the energy of a live recording, and some of the technical drawbacks of a live recording. The piano, drums and bass are in the left channel and Stan the Man, is in both, which is somewhat disconcerting. As you might guess, the ballads, "Spring is Here" and "My Foolish Heart" are the best tunes along with "Invitation" which is swing tempo.

The other lesser known pieces are of much faster tempo including one of unknown title (a small reward is offered to whoever can identify it). They are listenable, and show that Stan could play anything, he was not featherlight, but a "stompin' tenor man", as has been said elsewhere, ad-infinitum. But these fast songs are not engaging. The recording is somewhat bright and ragged when they all start cooking hard.

2 1/2 stars for an OK live recording, 2 for technical recording quality from Stan Getz Fusion period under my tough grading system. But I'm hard to please.

The Wonderful and Brilliant Stan Getz.......2000-09-28

This is CD is a must for any Stan Getz fan. In fact, its a must for any jazz fan. Getz pulls the most gorgeous phrases out of thin air, over and over and over. His rhythm section with Jack Dejohnette and Bill Holland is like a four armed elastic man. Nobody plays this good anymore. I love Getz and this disc is a good as I've heard him live!!!!!

Average customer rating:

My Foolish Heart: Live at the Left Bank
Stan Getz
Manufacturer: Sin-Drome Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00023GG26
Release Date: 2004-05-25

Tracks:

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

Jazz Music:

Jazz Music

Jazz Music