Stan Getz - Cool Velvet (The Duke Velvet Edition) (2024) [Hi-Res]

Review by Stephen Cook
After a decade establishing himself as one of the premiere tenor saxophonists in jazz with a slew of top Verve albums, Stan Getz began the '60s with this first foray into the world of strings. This, of course, would not be his last album with strings; later milestones like the Eddie Sauter-arranged Focus and lesser bowing dates like the Michel Legrand collaboration, Communications '72, would follow. And while certainly not on the same level as Focus, Cool Velvet still finds Getz at his melodic best over the course of ten tracks. Like earlier strings dates by Charlie Parker and Clifford Brown, Cool Velvet's slinky charts bring out the best in Getz's already romantic and liquid-toned approach. Recorded in Germany with a local combo, the album features Russell Garcia's (Louis Armstrong, Mel Tormé, Anita O'Day) relatively tame charts on a program that includes such highlights as "Early Autumn" and "Born to Be Blue." A very pleasant outing that trades in the cinematic atmospherics of Focus for some straightforward ballad dreaminess. Cool Velvet is also available as a two-fer with 1966's Voices album.

Tracklist:
1-1. Stan Getz - The Thrill Is Gone (Restored Original 2024) (05:05)
1-2. Stan Getz - It Never Entered My Mind (Restored Original 2024) (04:05)
1-3. Stan Getz - Early Autumn (Restored Original 2024) (04:43)
1-4. Stan Getz - When I Go I Go All The Way (Restored Original 2024) (03:58)
1-5. Stan Getz - A New Town Is A Blue Town (Restored Original 2024) (02:39)
1-6. Stan Getz - 'Round Midnight (Restored Original 2024) (03:04)
1-7. Stan Getz - Born To Be Blue (Restored Original 2024) (03:52)
1-8. Stan Getz - Whisper Not (Restored Original 2024) (05:01)
1-9. Stan Getz - Goodbye (Restored Original 2024) (04:25)
1-10. Stan Getz - Nature Boy (Restored Original 2024) (02:58)