Stan Getz (1927 – 1991)
I received an e-mail from a lovely lady in Scandinavia about Stan. It was so sweet and also so revealing as to who Stan really was, that I asked if she would allow me to post her email. Christina graciously agreed… following is what she wrote:

And again.. Thank you so much Christina!

”Hi Bev

I want you to know that meeting Stan back then was one of the greatest experiences of my life. He was very kind to me and his hospitality was outstanding. During the two months I stayed in Los Angeles I went to his place 10-12 times and each time we spent many hours together – he let me join inall the activities going on at the time, dinner parties, a Lakers basketball game, the movies, he even took me to an AA meeting. Every time I went there I would play a little for him and ask a lot of questions, which he tried to answer as well as possible – both the clever and the stupid questions! 🙂 I am so grateful for having had this rare opportunity to get close to him and his wonderful personality and to understand more of his great musicianship! You know, the most important thing I learned from him was that as a musician you have to play ‘you’ and what I found was that all the qualities I heard in his music, I recognized in his personality as well – this gave such great meaning to me and has been a guideline for me all through my own musical life.
A big thanks to you for honouring him with this site – I’m happy to get a chance to share with you, his closest family, the wonderful experience I had with him!
all the best to you and your family from
Christina”

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And here’s a beautiful Guest Book Comment by Michael J. Simonetti: Mr. Simonetti…whoever and wherever you are… This quote of yours is so beautiful. Had to share it! Thank you! Bev Getz

The day God announced he wished to play a musical intrument:

“The story goes that one day God announced he wished to play a musical instrument and so he choose the tenor saxophone because to him, it sounded closest to the sound of an angelic voice. An angel nearby hearing God suggested he listen to a Stan Getz recording which God did. After listening to a tune or two God declared that he had decided to shoose another instrument. When the angel asked God why he had changed his mind God paused, smiled broadly, and answered…”Because I have heard the voice of perfection”.

R.I.P. Stan

Michael J. Simonetti, May 15th 2009, Guest Book Comment

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”From Terry Sigman………….The person you met at Birdland

This is not a tweet or a blog.  It’s just a vivid memory of when I was a sophomore at James Monroe High in The Bronx.  Stan Getz and I were in the same English class.  Miss Carroll, the teacher, gave the class an assignment for the following week.  We had to give a five minute speech on any subject.  The day came….and while I sat nervously awaiting my turn to be called, Stan Getz got up…..walked to the blackboard…..took a piece of chalk,and proceeded to tell us about music and the big bands.  While speaking, he drew a diagram on the board of where the different musicians would sit in a big band.  He was riveting, and he was so into his subject, he ran over the five minutes.  Miss Carroll didn’t seem to mind, and let him go on.  I loved it and never forgot it.  His future musicianship was evident at that age.  And the rest is history.”
I had the pleasure of meeting this fine lady at Birdland recently. When she recited this story to me, I asked her to please send it in writing so I could share it on Stan’s website.

Thank you so much for sharing this precious memory Mrs. Sigman!
Bev Getz
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Stan Getz and Roy Mathers:

The signed one of your Dad and me has an interesting story behind it that demonstrates a completely different side of him from the ‘bad boy’ side that we hear too much of.

When I was a teenager, I had a good friend who was a press photographer. He had an assignment to take some pictures at a JATP concert in London.
When I heard that, and I knew Stan Getz was on the bill, I pleaded with my friend to take me with him as his assistant or something (Stan was then, as now, my idol). He finally agreed and off we went to the theatre.
After a while, after many pictures had been taken backstage, I saw the great man walking down the corridor. My friend than approached him and, before I knew what was happening, said to Stan “My young colleague here is a great fan and would like to have his picture taken with you. Is that all right?” “Of course, said Stan and indicated that I should come and stand next to him. I was so nervous and awe-struck in his presence that I literally couldn’t say a word. Stan put his arm round me and the picture was taken.
I did think that the whole episode was going to pass with my being speechless and not saying a word to him, but I managed to pluck up courage to ask him a favour. When the picture was printed, would he sign it for me if I brought it to his next London gig in a week or two’s time. He said certainly and asked my name.
A week or so later, I turned up at the stage door of the next London theatre (I can’t remember the name now) and asked if I could come in and see Mr. Getz. The Stage Door Keeper (like all SDKs) said that no-one comes in without an official pass. I pointed out that Mr. Getz had said that he would sign my photo. The SDK then asked my name and, when I told him, he said ‘Oh yes, Mr. Getz is expecting you – second dressing room on the right’!
I was amazed and impressed that, after one brief meeting, Stan had remembered my name and had also remember to take the trouble to inform the Stage Door Keeper of my possible visit. I can think of very people indeed that would do that! I found him in his dressing room (with Dizzy Gillespie) and he was extremely kind and charming.
I met him on a number of occasions after that and always personally found him very easy to talk to. (I did witness on or two occasions when he was a bit short with promoters, for instance, but that was only ever because, being a perfectionist, he wanted things to be right.).

I hope this is of interest to you Bev, and that I haven’t gone on for too long!

Regards

Roy Mathers