斯坦·盖茨

Stan Getz (born Stanley Gayetski; February 2, 1927 – June 6, 1991) was an American jazz saxophonist. Playing primarily the tenor saxophone, Getz was known as "The Sound" because of his warm, lyrical tone, with 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 performed in bebop and cool jazz groups. Influenced by João Gilberto and Antônio Carlos Jobim, he also helped popularize bossa nova in the United States with the hit 1964 single "The Girl from Ipanema".

Early life

Stan Getz was born Stanley Gayetski on February 2, 1927, at St. Vincent's Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Getz's father, Alexander ("Al"), was born in Mile End, London, in 1904; his mother, Goldie (née Yampolsky), was born in Philadelphia in 1907. His paternal grandparents Harris and Beckie Gayetski were originally from Kyiv, Ukraine, but had emigrated to escape the anti-Jewish pogroms to Whitechapel, in the East End of London. While in England, they owned the Harris Tailor Shop at 52 Oxford Street for more than 13 years. In 1914, Harris and Beckie emigrated to the United States with their three sons Al, Phil, and Ben, following several siblings that had recently emigrated there. Getz's original family name, Gayetski, was changed to Getz upon arrival in America.

The Getz family initially settled in Philadelphia but moved to New York City during the Great Depression, seeking better employment opportunities. Getz worked diligently in school, achieving straight A's and finishing sixth grade near the top of his class. His main passion was musical instruments. He began playing various instruments, starting with a harmonica he received at the age of twelve. When he turned thirteen, his father bought him his first saxophone, a $35 alto saxophone. He quickly progressed to playing all types of saxophones and the clarinet. Still, he developed a passion for the tenor saxophone and began practicing for eight hours a day while studying with Bill Shiner, a well-known saxophone teacher in the Bronx. According to Getz, he only had about six months of lessons and never studied music theory or harmony.

Getz attended James Monroe High School in the Bronx. In 1941, he was accepted into the All-City High School Orchestra of New York City, which provided him with the opportunity to receive private, free tutoring from Simon Kovar, a bassoon player with the New York Philharmonic. During this time, he also played the saxophone at dances and bar mitzvahs. He eventually dropped out of school to pursue his musical career but was later sent back to the classroom by truancy officers of the school system.

Career

Beginnings

In 1943, at the age of 16, he joined Jack Teagarden's band and, because of his youth, he became Teagarden's ward. Getz also played along with Nat King Cole and Lionel Hampton. A period based in Los Angeles with Stan Kenton was brief. Following a comment from Kenton that Getz's main influence, Lester Young, was too simple, Getz quit.

After performing with Jimmy Dorsey and Benny Goodman, Getz was a soloist with Woody Herman from 1947 to 1949 in the Second Herd, and he first gained wide attention as one of the band's saxophonists, who were known collectively as "The Four Brothers"; the others being Serge Chaloff, Zoot Sims, and Herbie Steward. With Herman, he had a hit with "Early Autumn" in 1948.