JazzWax

Bradley, Freddie and Rosey

In The Wall Street Journal this week, I interviewed actor Bradley Whitford for my House Call column in the Mansion section (go here). Bradley is best known for his role in TV's The West Wing (1999-2006). He currently is co-starring in season 6 of The Handmaid's Tale. [Photo above of Bradley Whitford courtesy of the Alliance for Justice]

Bradley will be joining the cast of The Diplomat, for those of you watching the series. Go here...

What I'm watching

Currently or just finished...

• Life or Something Like It, with Angelina Jolie (film/Netflix/2002)
• 99 Homes, a thriller film with Michael Shannon. Thanks to Todd Selbert. (film/Roku/2014)
• Protection, season 1 of a British crime series (BritBox/2024)
• Deep Cover, a crime comedy-thriller film starting June 12
• Mobland, a British crime series with Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren

Worthwhile stuff that started or will start soon...

• Bosch Legacy S3 (Prime)
• 1923 (Paramount+)
• Mobland (Paramount+)
• Dark Winds S3 (AMC)
• Long Bright River (Peacock)
• Good American Family (Hulu)
• Alto Knights (film)
• The Four Seasons (May 1/Netflix)
• The Better Sister (May 22/Prime)
• Deep Cover (June 12/film)

My favorite streaming series, ranked...

1. Babylon Berlin
2. My Brilliant Friend
3. The Promised Life
4. Killing Eve
5. The Crown
6. Mad Men
7. The Americans
8. Younger
9. Fleabag
10. Band of Brothers
11. The Sopranos
12. Enlightened
13. Friday Night Lights
14. Justified
15. Good American Family
16. Feud: Bette and Joan
17. The Old Man
18. Downton Abbey
19. The Blacklist
20. Goliath
21. Julia
22. The Gentlemen
23. Turn: Washington's Spies
24. Unbelievable
25. Landman
26. Voiceless (Bella da morire (2020/MHz)
27. Black Doves
28. Web Therapy

Past recommended series, films and documentaries...

TV series

• The Affair—(2014-2019/Hulu)
• Alaska Daily—(2022/Prime)
• The Americans—(2013-2018)/Prime)
• Anatomy of a Scandal—(2022/Netflix)
• Apples Never Fall—2024/Peacock)
• Babylon Berlin (2017-2024/MHz via Prime Video)
• Band of Brothers—(2001/Netflix) 
• The Bay (2019-current/BritBox)
• Black Doves (2024/Netflix)
• The Blacklist (2013-2023/Netflix)
• Belgravia—(2020/Prime Video)
• Blue Lights—(2023/BritBox)
• Bosch—(2014-2021/Prime)
• Bosch: Legacy—(2022-current/Prime)
• The Crown—(2016-2023/Netflix)
• Cherif—(2013-2019/Prime)
• Dark Winds—(2022/AMC)
• The Diplomat—(2023/Netflix)
• Downton Abbey—(2020-2015/Prime)
• The Dropout (2022/Hulu)
• Elizabeth 1 (2005/Max)
• Emily in Paris—(2020-present/Netflix)
• Enlightened—(2011-2013/Max)
• Feud (S1): Bette and Joan—(2017/Hulu)
• Feud: Capote Vs. The Swans—(2024/FX, with streaming on Hulu)
• Fisk—(2021/Netflix)
• Friday Night Lights (2006-2011/Netflix)
• The Gentlemen—(2024/Netflix)
• Godless—(2017/Netflix)
• Goliath—(2016-2021/Prime)
• The Gilded Age—(current/Max)
• High Water—(2022/Netflix)
• Homeland—(2011-2020/Showtime)
• Il Commissario Manara (Inspector Manara) (2009-2011/MHz)
• Jane Eyre—(2006/Britbox)
• Justified—(2010-2015/Hulu)
• Killing Eve—(2018-2022/Netflix)
• Life & Beth—(Seasons 1& 2, 2022-present/Hulu)
• Lincoln Lawyer—(2022-present/Netflix)
• Lioness—(2023-current/Paramount+)
• Loudermilk—(2017-2020/Netflix)
• MI-5, the Series—(2002-2011/BritBox)
• Monsieur Spade—(2024/AMC)
• Murdaugh Murders: The Movie, Parts 1 and 2—(2023/Lifetime)
• My Brilliant Friend—(2018-current/Max)
• The Night Agent—(2023-present/Netflix)
• 1923—(2022-present/Paramount+)
• 1883—(2021-2022/Prime)
• The Old Man—(2022/Hulu)
• On Call—2025/Amazon Prime)
• Outlander—(2014-present/Netflix)
• The Perfect Couple—(2024/Netflix)
• Poldark—(2015-2019/Prime)
• The Promised Life—(2018/MHz via Prime Video)
• Reacher—(2016-present/Netflix)
• Ripley—(2024/Netflix)
• Scott & Bailey (2011-2016/Prime)
• The Spy—(2019/Netflix)
• Turn: Washington's Spies—(2014-2017/Prime)
• Unbelievable—(2019/Netflix)
• Under the Banner of Heave—(2022/Hulu)
• Veronica Mars—(2004 to 2019/Hulu)
• Voiceless (Bella da morire—(2020/MHz)
• The Watcher—(2022/Netflix)
• The Way Home—(2023-current/Peacock)
• Who Is Erin Carter—(2023/Netflix)
• The Woman in the Wall—(2024/Showtime)
• The Veil—(2024/Hulu-FX)
• Web Therapy—(2011-2015/Fandango)
• Wilder—(2017-current)
• WPC 56—(2013-2015/Britbox)
• Yellowstone—(2018-present/Paramount Network)
• Younger—(2015-2021K/Netflix)

Films

• The Accountant—(2016/Hulu)
• American Gangster—(2007/Max)
• Armageddon Time—(2022/Prime)
• The Ballad of Buster Scruggs—(2018/Netflix)
• The Ballad of Lefty Brown—(2017/Netflix)
• Blackout (2022/Netflix) 
• The Bricklayer—(2024/Netflix)
• The Commuter (2018/Netflix)
• The Dig—(2021/Netflix)
• Eiffel—(2021/Prime)
• Enola Holmes 1 and 2—(2022/Netflix)
• Enrico Piaggio - Un Sogno Italiano (An Italian Dream) (2019/MHz)
• The Equalizer 1, 2 and 3—(2014-2024/Prime)
• The Great Lillian Hall—(2024/Max)
• The Family Man—(2000/Netflix)
• Fury—(2014/Netflix)
• God's Country—(2022/Hulu)
• Guy Ritchie's The Covenant—(2023/Prime)
• I Used to Be Funny (2023/Netflix)
• Jack Reacher (the movie)—(2012/Paramount+) 
• Just My Luck (2006/Paramount+)
• Kill Chain—(2019/Max)
• Killers of the Flower Moon—(2023/Apple+)
• La Palma (2024/Netflix)
• Knight and Day—(2010/Roku)
• Last Night in Soho—(2021/Prime)
• Last Seen Alive—(2020/Netflix)
• The Little Things—(2021/Netflix)
• Lonely Planet—(2024)/Netflix)
• Man on Fire—(2004/Max)
• Manchester by the Sea—(2016/Prime Video)
• MI-5—(2015/Max)
• The Mule—(2018/Netflix)
• The Night Agent—(2023/Netflix)
• Nobody—(2021/Prime)
• Nobody Wants This—(2024/Netflix)
• Ordinary Angels—(2024/assorted platforms)
• The Pledge—(2011/Peacock)
• Purple Hearts—(2022/Netflix)
• The Queen—(2006/Paramount+)
• The Queen's Gambit—(2020/Netflix)
• Queenpins—(2021/Pluto TV)
• Reptile—(2023/Netflix)
• Ruthless—(2023/Hulu)
• The Secret: Dare to Dream—(2020/Netflix).
• Sicario (2015/Netflix)
• Self Reliance—(2023/Hulu)
• Seraphim Falls—(2006/Netflix)
• Some Girl(s)—(2013/Amazon Prime)
• Somewhere in Queens—(2022/Hulu)
• Spy(ies)—(2009/Prime)
• The Stranger—(2022/Netflix)
• Toscana—(2022/Netflix)
• The Two Popes—(2019/Netflix)
• Up in the Air—(2009/Max)
• Woman in Gold—(2015/Max)
• Wonder Wheel—(2017/Prime)

Documentaries

• Aftershock: Everest and the Nepal Earthquake—(2022/Netflix)
• The Beach Boys—(2024/Disney)
• Carole King: Live in Central Park—(2023/PBS)
• The Comeback—(2005 and 2014/Max)
• Cunk on Earth—(2022/Netflix)
• Cyndi Lauper: Let the Canary Sing—(2023/Paramount+)
• Facing Nolan—(2022/Netflix)
• Five Came Back—(2017/Netflix)
• Jane Fonda in Five Acts—(2024/Max)
• Kate Hepburn: Call Me Kate—(2023/Netflix)
• The Only Girl in the Orchestra—(2023/Netflix)
• Suzi Q: Suzi Quatro—(2019/Prime)
• The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari—(2022/Netflix)
• 'Tis Autumn: The Search for Jackie Paris—(2007/go here)

Laura Nyro. Following my post on Laura Nyro, I heard from music author-journalist Harvey Kubernik [photo above of Laura Nyro]:

"I knew Laura. Her mother was named Gilda. My 101 year old mother is Hilda. We had some sort of bond. Singer-songwriter Bob Crewe introduced us. Laura always said when I kvetched about the music business, 'You are so lucky not to be in it.' I've always been on the fringe and, as the years go by, she is proving to be prophetic.

"Even when she would come to Southern California to play gigs, she'd ask me to come to the sound check. In the 1990s, we discussed doing a spoken-word recording, but soon the phone calls stopped and she left the planet.

"Somehow, her debut LP, More Than a New Discovery (1967), remains my fave. The story about her being booed at the Monterey Pop Festival in '67 was a fable. Promoter Lou Adler and documentarian D.A. Pennebaker played me her full performance. It was a short set backed by Hollywood recording session musicians. Polite applause followed. The hippies attending wanted a longer segment.

"Right after Monterey Pop, Adler and actress Peggy Lipton flew to meet her about signing to Ode Records. David Geffen got there first and became her manager and devoted minder."

Hubert Laws. Following my post on flutist Hubert Laws, I heard from Lee Prout, who sent along a photo of Laws (above) with permission to use it.

Paul Desmond got together in Canada in 1975 with Ed Bickert (g), Don Thompson (b) and Jerry Fuller (d) for a concert broadcast by the CBC. Here's Desmond's Wendy [photo above of Paul Desmond, courtesy of Mosaic Records]...

I reached out to Don Thompson...

"Hi Marc. Yes, those were happy times. It's great to have this video of Paul and Ed. CBC did a lot of things like this for a long time (1950's-1990s), but it's all gone now, thanks largely to government budget cutbacks. The last time I was in a CBC studio was at least 20 years ago, and we recorded one tune.

"Thanks for your recent post on Kenny Wheeler. I hadn't heard about that recording. Kenny was a great friend for many years. We worked together in every context imaginable from duo to various small groups, a few times with the big band and on one occasion, a big studio orchestra with strings, woodwinds and three french horns. He was, in my opinion, the greatest jazz musician ever to come out of Canada. As a composer, I can't think of very many people who have written as much truly beautiful music as he did."

Something Happens to Me, by Jack Segal and Marvin Fisher, remains a wonderful song. Here are five terrific renditions:

Here's Jesse Belvin backed by an orchestra arranged by Marty Paich...

Here's Nancy Wilson with a Billy May arrangement...

Here's Blossom Dearie with a Jack Marshall arrangement...

Here's tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine...

And here's Nat King Cole with an arrangement by Nelson Riddle...

New music of note

Galactic and Irma Thomas: Audience With the Queen (Tchoup-zilla). If you're up on New Orleans R&B, you know who Irma Thomas is. A contemporary of Aretha Franklin and Etta James, she never managed to cross over to the pop charts with consistent success. She was first to record Time Is on My Side, Jerry Ragovoy's song first recorded by trombonist Kai Winding in 1963 for Verve and produced by Creed Taylor. Next came Irma's rendition in 1964. Later that year, the Rolling Stones took a shot and had a massive hit. Now Irma and Galactic, a leading New Orleans funk band, have teamed up for this powerful album. It definitely has Grammy legs. Buy on vinyl, CD or download here.

Here's Irma Thomas with Galactic recording Puppet on Your String...

Johnny Iguana—At Delmark (Delmark). Chicago blues pianist and organist Johnny Iguana has been making music since age 16. A barrel-house player with great hands, he has just released a solo album. The last time I heard a piano with this much flavor I was sitting in Dr. John's living room for an interview as he illustrated the history of New Orleans piano on the keyboard. On this album are boogie-woogie and blues classics but Iguana also slipped in in Neil Young's Heart of Gold. Music that travels like a train. Buy on vinyl, CD or download here.

Here's Bass Key Boogie...

And here's an hour of Johnny...

Winther, Andersson and Watts—Steep Steps (Hobby Horse). The last time I posted about this trio was in 2024, when they released their first album, WAW. Now pianist Carl Winther, bassist Richard Andersson and drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts are out with Steep Steps. This is a knockout trio with enormous sensitivity, intelligence and taste. Carl is a superb pianist, Richard's bass is in the pocket and Tain is extraordinary. The tracks feature three originals by Carl (You Know, Steep Steps and Turning Chapter), one by McCoy Tyner (Inner Glimpse) and another by Tadd Dameron (Soultrane). Give a listen on streaming platforms or listen and buy here.

Here's You Know...

Freddie Redd radio. WKCR-FM's Sid Gribetz will present a five-hour tribute to the music of pianist-composer Freddie Redd on “Jazz Profiles” this Sunday, April 27, from 2-7p.m. ET. Listen from anywhere in the world by going here.

Duke Ellington radio. On Tuesday, April 29, WKCR-FM will celebrate Duke Ellington's birthday with a full day of his music starting Monday night at 11:59 p.m. ET and then all day and evening on Tuesday. Listen from anywhere in the world by going here.

And finally, here's Rosemary Clooney and the Hi-Lo's (above) on live TV singing How About You...

Backgrounder: O'Donel Levy - 'Black Velvet' (1971)

The early 1970s was an explosive time for pop music. Trade quotas were lifted on Japanese electronic products, and America was flooded with affordable component stereo systems. Stores helped you match a turntable to an integrated receiver and speakers based on your budget. If you didn't have the money, you could always go with a Japanese-made 8-track player with built-in speakers and an integrated receiver.

Appearing on all of those integrated receivers was an FM radio band, which for the first time allowed millions of Americans to tune in a wide range of local stations broadcasting in stereo. Full albums were often played, and an increased demand for music gave way to a growing number of record supermarket chains, featuring aisles of bins holding thousands of records in dozens of sections. The number of sub-genres of all types of music mushroomed to fill the bins.

Jazz suddenly included soul-jazz, jazz-funk, jazz fusion, jazz-rock, soft jazz and many other splinter forms. Enter guitarist O'Donel "Butch" Levy. Born in Baltimore, Md., in 1945, he studied at Johns Hopkins's Peabody Institute and then moved to New York. A jazz-funk and soul-jazz player, he toured with guitarist George Benson and organist Jimmy McGriff.

Levy's first album release as a leader was Black Velvet (Groove Merchant), a soulful jazz-pop album with a Latin-tinged funk-soul groove. The album featured O'Donel Levy (g), Billy Skinner (tp), Arthur 'Fats' Theus (ts,fl), Charles Covington (el-p,org), Alarza Lee Collins (b), Chester Thompson (d), Nathaniel Rice Jr. (congas) and William Thorpe (perc).

The tracks:

• Watch What Happens
• Granny
• I'll Close My Eyes
• Nature's Child
• Love Story
• Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)
• I'll Be There
• Misty
• Call Me
• You've Made Me So Very Happy

O'Donel Levy died in 2016 at age 70.

Here's Levy's complete Black Velvet, without ad interruptions. A special thanks to Tom Fine for the O'Donel Levy reminder...

Other ad-free Backgrounders in my series:

• Zoot Sims Plays Bossa Nova, go here.
• Lee Morgan: Lee-Way, go here.
• Bossa Nova for Swinging Lovers, go here.
• Leon Spencer: Louisiana Slim, go here.
• Bossa Nova Modern Quartet: Bossa Nova Jazz Samba, go here.
• Bill Evans & Luiz Eça: Piano Four Hands, go here.
• Ray Brown Trio: Don't Get Sassy, go here.
• Os Tatuis: Os Tatuis, go here.
• Waltel Branco: Mancini Tambem É Samba, go here.
• Jack Wilson Plays Brazilian Mancini, go here.
• Conjunto Copacabana Bossa: Bossa, go here.
• Ella Fitzgerald: Ella Swings Lightly, go here.
• Charles Earland: Charles Earland, go here.
• Kenny Burrell: Crash! w/ Jack McDuff, go here.
• Jack McDuff: The Heatin' System, go here.
• Horace Silver: Horace-Scope, go here.
• Antonio Carlos Jobim: Wave, go here.
• Sonny Stitt: Sonny Stitt Plays, go here.
• Sonny Stitt with Bennie Green: My Main Man, go here.
• Johnny Hodges and Earl Hines: Stride Right, go here.
• Lionel Hampton: Bossa Nova Jazz, go here.
• Johnny Hodges & Ben Webster: Cellar Session, go here.
• Bill Evans: Solo Sessions Vol. 1, go here.
• Frank Wess: Trombones & Flute, go here.
• Presenting the Buddy DeFranco & Tommy Gumina Quartet, go here.
• Ernest Ranglin: Wranglin', go here.
• Dave Pell Octet: Plays Rodgers & Hart, go here.
• Milt Buckner: Block Chords Parade, go here.
• Roberto Menescal: A Nova Bossa, go here.
• Count Basie: Have a Nice Day, go here.
• Freddie Green: Mr. Rhythm, go here.
• Leny Andrade: Leny Andrade, go here.
• Johnny Alf: Ele é Johnny Alf, go here.
• Dodo Marmarosa: Dodo's Back, go here.
• Freddie Redd: The Music From the Connection, go here.
• Nicola Stilo & Toninho Horta: Duets, go here.
• Urbie Green: Persuasive Trombone, go here.
• Johnny Richards: Something Else, go here.
• Wayne Shorter: JuJu, go here.
• Hampton Hawes: All Night Session!, go here.
• Shorty Rogers Plays Richard Rodgers, go here.
• Chet Baker: Pretty/Groovy, go here.
• Sonny Stitt: The Sensual Sound of Sonny Stitt, go here.
• Gil Mellé: New Faces, New Sounds, go here.
• Herbie Mann and Charlie Rouse: Just Wailin', go here.
• Bobby Hackett: Memorable & Mellow, go here.
• Tina Brooks: Back to the Tracks, go here.
• Sonny Rollins Plays for Bird, go here.
• Red Garland: A Garland of Red, go here.
• Grant Green: Gooden's Corner, go here.
• Eumir Deodato Plays Marcos Valle, go here.
• Horace Parlan; Movin' & Groovin', go here.
• Russ Garcia: Four Horns and a Lush Life, go here.
• Vic Lewis: Plays Bossa Nova at Home and Away, go here.
• Buddy Collette's Swinging Shepherds, go here.
• Dizzy Gillespie: Gillespiana, go here.
• Nelson Riddle: Communication, go here.
• Nelson Riddle: Changing Colors, go here.
• Elmo Hope: Complete Trios, 1953-1966, go here.
• Buddy Collette: Man of Many Parts, go here.
• The Herbie Mann-Sam Most Quintet, go here.
• Shorty Rogers: Cool and Crazy, go here.
• The Return of Art Pepper, go here.
• Benny Golson and the Philadelphians, go here.
• Moacir Santos: Coisas, go here.
• Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis: Lock, the Fox, go here.
• Tony Bennett: The Movie Song Album, go here.
• Thad Jones/Mel Lewis: Consummation, go here.
• James Moody: Return From Overbrook, go here.
• Barry Galbraith: Guitar and the Wind, go here.
• Count Basie: With Quincy Jones and Neal Hefti, go here.
• Johnny Richards: Walk Softly, Run Wild!, go here.
• Dave Pike: Bossa Nova Carnival, go here.
• Clare Fischer: Só Danço Samba, go here.
• Reggie Johnson: First Edition, go here.
• John Graas: French Horn Jazz, go here.
• Eddie Lockjaw Davis & Johnny Griffin: Tough Tenor Favorites, go here.
• Bill Perkins: Bossa Nova With Strings Attached, go here.
• Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery, go here.
• Pepper Adams Quintet, go here.
• Sonny Rollins Plus 4, go here.
• Coleman Hawkins: Desafinado, go here.
• Sammy Davis Jr. Sings and Laurindo Almeida Plays, go here.
• Paul Quinichette: Moods, go here.
• Jimmy Forrest: Forrest Fire!, go here.
• Brazilian Jazz Quartet: Coffee and Jazz, go here.
• Art Blakey!!! Jazz Messengers!!!, go here.
• Sidney Bechet/Martial Solal, go here.
• John Carisi: The New Jazz Sound Of "Show Boat," go here.
• The Marty Paich Quartet, Featuring Art Pepper, go here.
• João Gilberto, 1998, go here.
• Bobby Timmons: Soul Time, go here.
• Gerry Mulligan: Jeru, go here.
• Ray Bryant: Alone With the Blues, go here.
• Leon Spencer Jr.: Bad Walking Woman, go here.
• Jimmy McGriff: Step 1, go here.
• Johnny "Hammond" Smith: Breakout, go here.
• Oliver Nelson: Taking Care of Business, go here.
• Quincy Jones: Americans in Paris, go here.
• Sonny Stitt: Tune-Up!, go here.
• Herbie Mann: Yardbird Suite, go here.
• Quincy Jones: Twilight Time, go here.
• Lou Levy Quartet: Jazz in Four Colors, go here.
• Johnny Alf: Rapaz de Bem, go here.
• Hank Mobley: Poppin', go here.
• Barney Kessel: Kessel's Kit, go here.
• Larry Young: Into Somethin', go here.
• Henry Mancini: The Jazz Sound From Peter Gunn, go here.
• Sonny Stitt: Night Crawler, go here.
• Maynard Ferguson: Around the Horn, go here.
• Frank Rosolino: Franky Speaking!, go here.
• Ben Webster: King of the Tenors, go here.
• Kenny Dorham: Una Mas, go here.
• Gigi Gryce: Nica's Tempo, go here.
• Charlie Parker With Strings: The Master Takes, go here.
• The Great Jazz Piano of Phineas Newborn Jr., go here.
• The Complete Chet Baker Sings, go here.
• Shorty Rogers Courts the Count, go here.
• Miles Ahead: Miles Davis +19, go here.
• Kenny Burrell, Jazzmen - Detroit, go here.
• Bill Watrous, In Love Again, go here.
• Gene Ammons, Boss Tenor, go here.
• Roy Eldridge: The Strolling Mr. Eldridge, go here.
• Clifford Brown and Max Roach with Sonny Rollins, go here.
• Fats Navarro: Nostalgia, go here.
• Hank Mobley: Hank Mobley Quintet, go here.
• Sandy Mosse: Relaxin' With..., go here.
• Maynard Ferguson: A Message From Newport, go here.
• Jimmy Raney: Two Jims and Zoot, go here.
• Zoot Sims Plays 4 Altos, go here.
• Jimmy Forrest: Out of the Forrest, go here.
• Jazz Studio 2, From Hollywood, go here.
• Billy Taylor: My Fair Lady Loves Jazz, go here.
• Hank Mobley: Soul Station, go here.
• Sylvia Telles, Lúcio Alves and Roberto Menescal: Bossa Session, go here.
• Horace Silver: The Horace Silver Trio, go here.
• Walter Davis: Davis Cup, go here.
• Wynton Kelly: Kelly at Midnite, go here.
• Jack Sheldon: Jack's Groove, go here.
• Herbie Nichols: Complete Masters, go here.
• Hank Mobley: Hank Mobley Quartet, go here.
• Mundell Lowe: Satan in High Heels, go here.
• Hal McKursick and Art Farmer: Quintet Sessions, go here.
• Os Poligonais: Os Poligonais, go here.
• Buddy Fite: Tasty, go here.
• Al Sears: Swing's the Thing, go here.
• A.K. Salim, Savoy recordings, go here.
• Rosinha de Valença, go here.
• Remo Rau, Evening at Cafe Africana, go here.
• Georgie Auld, Plays the Winners, go here.
• Complete Oscar Pettiford Orchestra, go here.
• East Coast - West Coast Scene, go here.

Perfection: Stan Getz - 'Stella by Starlight'

The very first song Stan Getz recorded for Norman Granz's Clef label, in December 1952, was Victor Young's Stella by Starlight. At the time, the Stan Getz Quintet was comprised of Stan Getz (ts), Duke Jordan (p), Jimmy Raney (g), Bill Crow (b) and Frank Isola (d). [Photo above of Stan Getz]

By then, the group had already been playing the standard at gigs. They did so on November 14 at New York's Carnegie Hall and four days later at Birdland. They also performed it after the studio recording, on March 8, 1953, at Boston's Hi-Hat Club, with guitarist Jimmy Raney replaced by valve-trombonist Bob Brookmeyer.

The song features Getz at his very best—smooth, inventive on improvisation, and seamless on execution. Perfection!

Here's the quintet at Carnegie Hall playing Stella by Starlight...

Here's the quintet in the studio recording for Clef...

And here's the Getz quintet, with Bob Brookmeyer, at Boston's Hi-Hat Club...

Other Perfection tracks in this ongoing series...

• Paul Desmond and Jim Hall: Any Other Time, go here.
• John Coltrane: You Say You Care, go here.
• Quincy Jones: Funk Junction, go here.
• Art Farmer's Work of Art, go here.
• Miles Davis: A Gal in Calico, go here.
• Gene Krupa: Mulligan Stew, go here.
• Dave Brubeck: The Duke, go here.
• Horace Silver: The Back Beat, go here.
• Horace Parlan: Up & Down, go here.
• Dexter Gordon: Society Red, go here.
• Barney Kessel: You Go to My Head, go here.
• Count Basie: Corner Pocket, go here.
• Herbie Mann: Manteca, go here.
• Donald Byrd: Bronze Dance, go here.
• George Shearing: I'll Be Around, go here.
• Ammons & Stitt: You Talk That Talk, go here.
• Count Basie: Blues in My Heart, go here.
• Moonlight in Vermont, go here.
• Johnny Griffin / Matthew Gee, Here, go here.
• Jimmy Smith / Stanely Turrentine: When I'I Grow Too Old to Dream, go here.
• Chet Baker: Estate, go here.
• Jazz Studio 1: Tenderly, go here.
• Herb Pomeroy: Down Home Outing, go here.
• Frank Sinatra: There's a Small Hotel, go here.
• Bill Harris Herd: Blackstrap, go here.
• Gerry Mulligan: Westwood Walk, go here.
• Red Garland/Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis: We'll Be Together Again, go here.
• Bill Evans: Reflections in D, go here.
• Ted McNabb & Co.: Mountain Greenery, go here.
• Maynard Ferguson: Fox Hunt, go here.
• Serge Chaloff & the Herdsmen: The Most!, go here.
• Maynard Ferguson: Starfire, go here.
• Urbie Green, Please, go here.
• Machito, Conversation, go here.
• David Allyn, Love Is a Serious Thing, go here.
• Lennie Tristano, Wow, go here.
• Teddy Charles, Borodin Bossa Nova, go here.
• Gerry Mulligan, Night Lights, go here.
• Tommy Flanagan, In the Blue of Evening, go here.