Stan Getz - Stan's Party / 2CD set

1996 European CD collection.

When Stan Getz returned to Copenhagen to play at the Jazzhus Montmarte around the time of his 50th birthday in early 1977, his quartet was recorded over a several-night stretch at the club. The tenor saxophonist was in good spirits, as many of the performances are extended workouts. His band includes pianist Joanne Brackeen (making her only appearance on record with Getz, aside from one track on a Yugoslavian bootleg LP taped a year earlier), bassist Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen and drummer Billy Hart. The choice of material is very wide-ranging, delving from standards to Wayne Shorter's post-bop works and Latin jazz. All of the musicians are in top form throughout the double-disc set. The obvious highlights are the moving treatment of Billy Strayhorn's "Lush Life" and the rarely heard "Morning Star." This is an excellent outing that belongs in every Stan Getz fan's collection.

Ken Dryden ~ AllMusicGuide