Stan Getz
Stan Getz
Stanley "Stan" Getzwas an American jazz saxophonist. Playing primarily the tenor saxophone, Getz was known as "The Sound" because of his warm, lyrical tone, his prime influence being the wispy, mellow timbre of his idol, Lester Young. Coming to prominence in the late 1940s with Woody Herman's big band, Getz is described by critic Scott Yanow as "one of the all-time great tenor saxophonists". Getz went on to perform in bebop and cool jazz, but is perhaps best known for...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionSaxophonist
Date of Birth2 February 1927
CityPhiladelphia, PA
CountryUnited States of America
We made records to document ourselves, not to sell a lot of records. I still feel that way. I put out a record because I think it's beautiful, not necessarily commercial.
As far as playing jazz, no other art form, other than conversation, can give the satisfaction of spontaneous interaction.
I compulsively reach for perfection in music, often at the expense of everything else in my life.
I never consciously tried to conceive of what my sound should be...I never tried to imitate anybody, but when you love somebody's music, you're influenced...I really don't know how I developed my sound, but it comes from a combination of my musical conception and no doubt the basic shape of the oral cavity...
We recorded to document ourselves, not to sell a lot of records.
You don't rehearse jazz to death to get the camera angles.
I cannot play a lie. I have to believe in what I play or it won't come out.
The value of jazz still has to be clarified. People involve themselves with its superficialities without digging for its soul.
Other than conversation, no other art form can give the satisfaction of spontaneous interaction like Jazz.
You can read all the textbooks and listen to all the records, but you have to play with musicians that are better than you.
A good quartet is like a good conversation among friends interacting to each other's ideas.
When I'm alcohol-free now and even to see the world around me, I appreciate it, but I never truly enjoy too much of it maybe because I feel like I'm a working musician. There are some joyous moments, but I will not think a joyous moment.
Hearing myself so much all the time, I don't think I sound that special all the time because it's me.
I had a 10-year heroin habit and kicked that. Then I became an alcoholic. I drank two fifth's a day.