Stan Getz

One of the all-time great jazz saxophonists, Stan Getz came from a family of Ukrainian immigrants to Pennsylvania, although the family later moved to New York. A naturally gifted musician, he first took up the saxophone at the age of 13 and was tutored by Simon Kovar of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. By age 16 he was playing in Jack Teagarden's band, dropping out of school to pursue his music career, which soon found him playing alongside many of the jazz greats including Nat King Cole, Lionel Hampton, Stan Kenton, Jimmy Dorsey, Benny Goodman and Woody Herman. It was with Herman that Getz first played a starring role as one of four sax players, who became known as The Four Brothers, having a hit with Early Autumn. He launched his solo career in 1950 fronting his own band with a style which became known as cool jazz - a key to the popularity of bossa nova music - teaming up with guitarist Charlie Byrd to record the classic Desafinado. He also enjoyed huge success with his then wife, the singer Astrud Gilberto, scoring another major international hit with The Girl From Ipanema. Getz went on experiment with fusion music in collaborations with Chick Corea, Tony Williams and Stanley Clarke, later working with rock band Huey Lewis And The News on their Small World album. In 1986 he was inducted into the Down Beat Jazz Hall Of Fame, marking his contribution to the world of jazz. Getz died in 1991 at the age of 64.

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