FEBRUARY 16

                   STAN GETZ
                Stan Meets Chet

                    Recording Date:
                         February 16, 1958

                    Personnel:
                        Chet Baker           TP
                        Jodie Christian      P
                        Stan Getz             TS
                        Victor Sproles        B
                        Marshall Thompson D

               LINK

Review by Scott Yanow
Tenor saxophonist Stan Getz and trumpeter Chet Baker never particularly liked each other and, even though they had musically compatible styles, they only worked together briefly in three periods. Their mutual hostility can be felt in subtle ways on this session which has been reissued on CD. Getz ignores Baker's attempt to state the melody of "I'll Remember April" and he plays it himself several bars after. The two horns do not meet at all on the ballad medley and, since Baker sits out on "Jordu," they only play together on two of the four performances. Getz battles a squeaky reed on "I'll Remember April" and Baker seems a bit subpar in general although he really digs in on "Half-Breed Apache" (a very fast "Cherokee"). So overall this CD (which also includes pianist Jodie Christian, bassist Victor Sproles, and drummer Marshall Thompson), even with some good moments, does not live up to its potential.