Sweet Rain

by Stan Getz

Overview

One of Stan Getz's all-time greatest albums, Sweet Rain was his first major artistic coup after he closed the book on his bossa nova period, featuring an adventurous young group that pushed him to new heights in his solo statements. Pianist Chick Corea, bassist Ron Carter, and drummer Grady Tate were all schooled in '60s concepts of rhythm-section freedom, and their continually stimulating interplay helps open things up for Getz to embark on some long, soulful explorations (four of the five tracks are over seven minutes). The neat trick of Sweet Rain is that the advanced rhythm section work remains balanced with Getz's customary loveliness and lyricism. Indeed, Getz plays with a searching, aching passion throughout the date, which undoubtedly helped Mike Gibbs' title track become a standard after Getz's tender treatment here. Technical perfectionists will hear a few squeaks on the LP's second half (Getz's drug problems were reputedly affecting his articulation somewhat), but Getz was such a master of mood, tone, and pacing that his ideas and emotions are communicated far too clearly to nit-pick. Corea's spare, understated work leaves plenty of room for Getz's lines and the busily shifting rhythms of the bass and drums, heard to best effect in Corea's challenging opener "Litha." Aside from that and the title track, the repertoire features another Corea original ("Windows"), the typically lovely Jobim tune "O Grande Amor," and Dizzy Gillespie's Latin-flavored "Con Alma." The quartet's level of musicianship remains high on every selection, and the marvelously consistent atmosphere the album evokes places it among Getz's very best. A surefire classic. ~ Steve Huey

Product Details

Release Date:	08/30/2024
Label:	Verve
UPC:	0602465124699

Tracks

1. Litha
2. O Grande Amor
3. Sweet Rain
4. Con Alma
5. Windows

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Stan Getz   Primary Artist
Bill Evans   Primary Artist
Chick Corea   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Piano
Tony Williams   Guest Artist
George Mraz   Guest Artist
Stanley Clarke   Guest Artist
Grady Tate   Guest Artist,Drums
Ron Carter   Guest Artist,Bass
Billy Hart   Guest Artist

Technical Credits

Antonio Carlos Jobim   Composer
Chick Corea   Composer
Roger "Ram" Ramirez   Composer
Hollis King   Art Direction
Johnny Mangus   Liner Notes
Isabelle Wong   Design
Creed Taylor   Producer
Dizzy Gillespie   Composer
Vinicius de Moraes   Composer
Wayne Shorter   Composer
Denzil Best   Composer
Val Valentin   Director of Engineering
Rudy Van Gelder   Engineer
Jimmy Davis   Composer
Billy Strayhorn   Composer
Michael Gibbs   Composer
Harry Weinger   Reissue Supervisor
Cameron Mizell   Production Coordination
Kevin Reeves   Mastering
Jimmy Sherman   Composer