Per i tanti appassionati di Stan Getz.
Saluti, Gene
A list of mouthpieces used by Stan Getz:
Submitted by: GaraiJAN@aol.com
1945-1950: used a metal 4* Tone Master (Used during his stint with the Benny Goodman Band.)
1950-1954: used a White Streamline Brilhart mouthpiece #7.
1954-1956: used a Rubber Berg Larsen (used during an album Gerry Mulligan.)
1957-1971: began to use an early Florida Model rubber 5* in 1957 because it was easier to play ballads on. Used this model throughout the
Bossa Nova sessions until the 1964 Carnegie Concert with Joao Gilberto where Stan used a rubber Vandoren T-20 mouthpiece because
his sax and mouthpiece were stolen. Stan began using #5 strength reeds during the Bossa Nova years and the Chick Corea sessions in
1967-68.
1971-1974: Getz traded his Link for a modified Bobby Dukoff #5 Hollywood model and an old refaced metal Selmer C**.
1974-1988: Getz returned to his old set-up of the rubber Link by having two custom tailored Links, a refaced 7* Florida Model and a refaced
early Babbitt 5*. The Babbitt was refaced by Ben Harrod.
1989-1991: Dissatisfied with the bulkiness of the Links Getz requested that material be taken off to make the Links skinnier and easier to
play by his standards, until he was advised that taking off material on the beak of the mouthpiece would change its sound and timbre. So, he
controversially switched to a Meyer Rubber 8S which was tailored to his request.
The "double lip" technique used by Getz was often painful and it caused unnecessary squeaks. So, during late 1956 Getz devised a new embouchure wherein he curled his bottom lip and had his teeth actually touch the mouthpiece. He slightly curled his front lip and tightened his embouchure making a sad face grimace. He used this embouchure with the rubber Babbitt and the rubber Florida Link until 1962. During the Bossa Nova years Getz started to jam the mouthpiece as far as it could go in his mouth. There is no conclusive explanation, only the fact that Getz' drug problem weakened him or made him sick to the point he had no control of his embouchure, or articulation. Listen to "Con Alma" on the 1967 "Sweet Rain", or "Captain Marvel]. The bossa Nova years and the Chick Corea fusion era Stan made one of his greatest albums with "Bob Brookmeyer and Friends (w/Elvin Jones and Ron Carter.) his sound is uncommonly as smooth and clean. I believe that Getz loosened his embouchure and used less of his bottom lip enabling him to play with more agility and response. His playing and technique was his best in years. Getz returned to his regular embouchure through "Sweet Rain" under the sheer drudgery of drugs, presumably. He did a bit of a Burt Bacharach album with that embouchure.
It wasn't until 1971 where Stan's years became his most prosperous, contrary to what critics believe. His fusion dates with Chick Corea were very successful. A traditionalist, Getz never liked to change the way he played and sounded, but the particular situation Getz was in coerced his change. Soon enough, Getz totally changed his embouchure to that of Sonny Rollins, just basic and loose. Although I caught him in a regular session playing with his old embouchure in a 1971 concert bill. Getz acquired a metal Hollywood Dukoff 5 and Selmer D. He quickly returned to his rubber Link in 1974 and his traditional quartet style until, in 1975, Getz was asked to do a reunion Brazilian album with Joao Gilberto, Oscar Castro Neves, and Miucha Buarque. This is his greatest albums ever. and the most underrated one. You won't hear one squeak on this album Stan plays as clean and lyrical as ever with newer Brazilian material. Getz used the loose Rollins embouchure with the 5* Babbitt. He played cleanly like this until 1980 when his turbulent
drug addicted lifestyle started to take effect on his health. The 80s were a wasteland of recordings,except the most controversial recording ever,1983's
Chet Baker with Stan Getz The Stockholm Concerts where he played beautifully, and zestfully too. Stan had no choice but to use what came naturally to him, his old embouchure. He later changed to a Meyer just before his death.