Stan Getz - 1975 - Captain Marvel

Stan Getz

1975

Captain Marvel

01. La Fiesta 8:22

02. Five Hundred Miles High 8:07

03. Captain Marvel 5:08

04. Times Lie 9:36

05. Lush Life 2:26

06. Day Waves 8:41

Recorded with Chick Corea March 3, 1972, in A&R Studios, New York. Just a month after the recording session of Corea's "Return To Forever" album (February 2 & 3, 1972) in the same studio.

Bass – Stanley Clarke

Drums – Tony Williams

Electric Piano – Chick Corea

Percussion – Airto Moreira

Saxophone – Stan Getz

Wow. This has to be my favorite Stan Getz recording, easily. Getz took his Latin music into a whole different dimension with this one. The one-two percussion punch of Airto Moreira and Tony Williams keeps you moving. Bassist Stanley Clarke is certainly among the greatest to ever pick up the instrument. Keyboardist Chick Corea is at his best when playing more of a supportive and tinkering role, as he does for Captain Marvel. Stan Getz is his usual creamy smooth self but he almost gets fiery at times. Captain Marvel is certainly among the finest 1970s Jazz that I've heard. If any member of the band deserves the greatest credit for the success of the album it's drummer Tony Williams. Throw him in any setting, any whatsoever, and watch him thrive. The most ordinary moments of Captain Marvel are brilliant because of him. Drummers like Elvin Jones are great within their own little niche but Tony Williams consistently bestows unpredictable and spectacular playing onto the cosmos. He's in a league of his own.

Latin flavoured bliss, and who better to play latin than Chick Corea, Airto Moreira and Stanley Clarke, joining Tony Williams superb drumming and Stan Getz smooth, but sometimes fiery saxophone, on Captain Marvel. Stan Getz gives equal billing to all, especially Corea, this is a joint group endeavor, Corea wrote 5 of the 6 compositions, the lone one he did not write is a standard, 'Lush Life', which is the shortest track on the album, a moody slow number, the kind Getz does very well, but in saying that, kind of departs from the mood of the other 5 tracks and would have better been suited to put at the very end of side two. Side one is uptempo latin jazz with creative flare, especially kept tight by the percussion wizards Airto Moreira and Tony Willams drumming. Side two continues, beginning with Corea, Williams, Clarke and Moreira on 'Times Lie' with a long intro until Getz jumps in with some real sexy saxophone. A great track. I must mention Stanley Clarke as well, his bass playing stands out, in fact, everyone stands out on Captain Marvel, and all, are marvelous.

Latin flavoured bliss, and who better to play latin than Chick Corea, Airto Moreira and Stanley Clarke, joining Tony Williams superb drumming and Stan Getz smooth, but sometimes fiery saxophone, on Captain Marvel. Stan Getz gives equal billing to all, especially Corea, this is a joint group endeavor, Corea wrote 5 of the 6 compositions, the lone one he did not write is a standard, 'Lush Life', which is the shortest track on the album, a moody slow number, the kind Getz does very well, but in saying that, kind of departs from the mood of the other 5 tracks and would have better been suited to put at the very end of side two. Side one is uptempo latin jazz with creative flare, especially kept tight by the percussion wizards Airto Moreira and Tony Willams drumming. Side two continues, beginning with Corea, Williams, Clarke and Moreira on 'Times Lie' with a long intro until Getz jumps in with some real sexy saxophone. A great track. I must mention Stanley Clarke as well, his bass playing stands out, in fact, everyone stands out on Captain Marvel, and all, are marvelous.