Stan Getz was well-prepared for the demanding task of soloing atop expansive movie soundtrack charts. In addition to dealing with all sorts of band settings and stylistic variations just as a jazz player,
Getz had managed to fully explore the bossa nova world and cut several sides with string accompaniment. His sensitive tenor work always seemed flush with the temperament of the myriad combos he worked with and was especially impressive on Focus, the landmark 1961 strings date he cut with arranger
Eddie Sauter. Four years later, these two would team up for the 1965 soundtrack to Arthur Penn's film Mickey One. Penn's existential noir thriller, informed by a dose of French new wave elements, proved to be the perfect musical platform for both
Getz and
Sauter. Amidst
Sauter's kaleidoscopic and mercurial backdrop,
Getz offers up a fine mix of fluid improvisation and solo commentary. Never overpowered by the, at times, monumental full-band outbursts,
Getz is able to remain poised and even break through the walls of sound with vigorous yet cogent statements of his own. This Polygram reissue couples the actual movie soundtrack with
Getz and
Sauter's original studio renditions of the songs. For fans fond of the Focus album, this second
Getz and
Sauter collaboration will not disappoint. ~ Stephen Cook