Getz/Gilberto #2 – Recorded Live At Carnegie Hall (1964) [CD: 1993, Verve]

Following the peerless Getz/Gilberto album (which featured Girl From Ipanema) from a year before, Getz/Gilberto #2 holds its own with an appealing selection of fine jazz and bossa nova cuts. Unlike the first album’s seamless collaboration by Getz, João Gilberto, Astrud Gilberto, and Antonio Carlos Jobim, here Getz and João Gilberto turn in separate sets before uniting for a final set in this legendary live concert, recorded at Carnegie Hall in October of 1964.
Backed by a stellar quartet comprised of vibraphonist Gary Burton, bassist Gene Cherico, and drummer Joe Hunt, Getz turns in a sparkling performances on the seldom covered ballad Tonight I Shall Sleep With A Smile On My Face, while stretching out nicely on his original blues swinger Stan’s Blues. With the support of bassist Keeter Betts and drummer Helcio Milito, Gilberto displays his subtle vocal and guitar talents on a set of bossa nova favourites, including his own Bim Bom and Jobim’s Meditation.

MUSICAL CONTENTS
01. Grandfather’s Waltz
02. Tonight I Shall Sleep With A Smile On My Face
03. Stan’s Blues
04. Here’s That Rainy Day
05. Samba Da Minha Terra
06. Rosa Morena Joao Gilberto
07. Um Abraco No Bonfa.99
08. Bim Bom
09. Meditacao
10. O Pato (The Duck)
11. It Might As Well Be Spring
12. Only Trust Your Heart
13. Corcovado (Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars)
14. The Girl From Ipanema
15. Voce E Eu

After the huge success of the album Getz / Gilberto, and the single The Girl from Ipanema, saxophonist Jazz Stan Getz and guitarist/vocalist Brazilian Joao Gilberto find themselves together for a legendary concert held on 9 October, 1964 at Carnegie Hall, New York . Given the success of the first record (also made famous by the voice of Astrud Gilberto, then wife of João) it comes as no surprise that the concert sells out, now something of a rarity in concert jazz.

Stan Getz performs here with his new quartet, which includes young vibraphonist Gary Burton. This quartet alternates on stage with João Gilberto's trio, which features a rhythm section composed of Brazilian drummer Helcio Melito and bassist Keter Betts. The culmination of the show is, however, when Getz and João unite to accompany the sweet Astrud for a delightful group performance.

Getz / Gilberto # 2 gives witness to what was the highlight of the bossa nova and samba jazz craze in the early '60s United States. Soon after this famous concert, Astrud and João were to divorce, and the Brazilian singer would begin a successful solo career, always in the wake of her experience with Getz / Gilberto. Stan Getz would gradually abandon the samba to continue his career as a mainstream saxophonist (although often returning to the rhythms of the bossa nova that brought him such success).

The sound quality of the opening couple of minutes of this record is a little ropey whilst the sound engineers adjust the live mix, but soon improves brilliantly. This is an essential album for fans of Latin jazz.

Personnel
Tracks 1-4
o Stan Getz - tenor sax
o Gary Burton - vibraphone
o Gene clerk - bass
o Joe Hunt - drums

Tracks 5 - 10
o João Gilberto - guitar, vocal
o Keter Betts - bass
o Helcio Melito - drums

Tracks 11 - 15
o Stan Getz - tenor sax
o João Gilberto - guitar, vocal
o Astrud Gilberto - vocal
o Gary Burton - vibraphone
o Gene clerk - bass
o Joe Hunt - drums