His parents were Ukrainian Jews who immigrated from Kyiv city, Ukraine in 1903. The family later moved to New York City for better jobs. Stan worked hard in school receiving straight "A's" on average and finished 6th grade close to the top of his class. Stan's major interest was in musical instruments, and he felt a need to play every instrument in his sight. He played a number of instruments before his father bought him his first saxophone at the age of 13. Even though his father also got him a clarinet, Stan instantly fell in love with the saxophone and began practicing 8 hours a day. In 1941, he was accepted into the All City High School Orchestra of New York City. This gave Stan a chance to receive a private, free tutor from the New York Philharmonic, Simon Kovar - a bassoon player. He also began to spend more time playing the saxophone. He eventually dropped out of school in order to pursue his musical career, but was later sent back to the classroom by the school system’s truancy officers.
In 1943, he was accepted into Jack Teagarden's band, and because of his youth he became Teagarden's ward. Getz also played along with Nat King Cole and Lionel Hampton. After playing for Stan Kenton, Jimmy Dorsey, and Benny Goodman, Getz was a soloist with Woody Herman from 1947 to 1949 in 'The Second Herd' and he first gained wide attention as one of the band's saxophonists, who were known collectively as 'The Four Brothers', the others being Serge Chaloff, Zoot Sims and Herbie Steward. With Herman, he had a hit with "Early Autumn" and after Getz left 'The Second Herd' he was able to launch his solo career. He would be the leader on almost all of his recording sessions after 1950.
During the early '50s, Getz broke away from the Lester Young style to form his own musical identity and he was soon among the most popular of all jazzmen. He discovered Horace Silver in 1950 and used him in his quartet for several months. After touring Sweden in 1951, he formed an exciting quintet that co-featured guitarist Jimmy Raney; their interplay on up-tempo tunes and tonal blend on ballads was quite memorable. Getz's playing helped Johnny Smith have a hit in "Moonlight in Vermont," during 1953-1954 Bob Brookmeyer made his group a quintet and, despite some drug problems during the decade, Getz was a constant poll winner. After spending 1958-1960 in Europe, the tenorman returned to the U.S. and recorded his personal favorite album, Focus, with arranger Eddie Sauter's Orchestra.
Getz became a central figure in introducing bossa nova music to the U.S. audience. Teaming with guitarist Charlie Byrd, who had just returned from a U.S. State Department tour of Brazil, Getz recorded Jazz Samba in 1962 and it became a hit. The title track was an adaptation of Antonio Carlos Jobim's "One Note Samba". Getz won the Grammy for Best Jazz Performance of 1963 for "Desafinado". As a follow-up, Getz recorded Jazz Samba Encore! with one of the originators of bossa nova, Brazilian guitarist Luiz Bonfa.
He then recorded the album Getz/Gilberto with Tom Jobim, João Gilberto and his wife, Astrud Gilberto. Their "The Girl from Ipanema" won a Grammy Award. The piece became one of the most well-known latin jazz cuts of all time. Getz/Gilberto won two Grammys (Best Album and Best Single), besting The Beatles' A Hard Day's Night, a victory for Bossa Nova and Brazilian jazz. A live album, Getz/Gilberto Vol. 2, followed, as did Getz Au Go Go, a recording made live at the Cafe Au Go Go. Unfortunately, Getz' affair with Astrud Gilberto brought an end to his musical partnership with her and her husband and he began to move away from bossa-nova and back to cool jazz. Even while still working with the Gilbertos, he recorded Nobody Else But Me an album of straightforward jazz with a new quartet including vibraphonist Gary Burton, but Verve Records, wishing to continue building the Getz brand with bossa-nova, refused to release it. It eventually came out 30 years later, after Getz had died.
In 1972, Getz recorded in the fusion idiom with Chick Corea and Stanley Clarke. This group, without Getz, went on to become the famous Return to Forever, and many of the pieces including "La Fiesta" remained in their repertoire. In this period Getz experimented with an Echoplex on his saxophone, for which critics vilified him. He eventually discarded fusion and "electric jazz", returning to acoustic jazz, while at the same time gradually de-emphasizing the Bossa Nova, opting for more esoteric and less-mainstream jazz. He had a cameo in the movie The Exterminator (1980).
Towards the end of his life the now drug-free Getz had another creative peak with a group including the pianist Kenny Barron, whom Getz described as "my musical other half".
In 1986, he was inducted into the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame.
Getz married Beverly Byrne, a vocalist with the Gene Krupa band, on 7 November 1946; they had three children together: Steven, David, and Beverly (who married Michael McGovern).
Getz became involved with drugs and alcohol while a teenager. In 1954, he was arrested for attempting to rob a pharmacy to get a morphine fix. As he was being processed in the prison ward of Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, Beverly gave birth to their third child one floor below.
Getz tried to escape his narcotics addiction by moving to Copenhagen. He married Swedish aristocrat Monica Silfverskiöld on 3 November 1956 and had two children with her: Pamela and Nicolas. In 1957 Swedish girlfriend Inga Torgnér gave birth to a son Peter. Stan divorced Monica in 1987.
Zoot Sims, who had known Getz since their time with Herman, once described him as 'a nice bunch of guys', as a consequence of the wide behavioural range of which Getz was capable. In the final stages of his life Getz was able to end his addictions.
Getz died of liver cancer in 1991. His body was cremated and the ashes scattered at sea, off the coast of Malibu, California.
In 1998 the 'Stan Getz Media Center and Library' at the Berklee College of Music was dedicated through a donation from the Herb Alpert Foundation.
My Foolish Heart
Stan Getz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Beware my foolish heart
How white the ever constant moon
Take care my foolish heart
There's a line between love and fascination
That's hard to see, how many names such as this
For they both have the very same sensation
Her lips are much too close to mine
Beware my foolish heart
But should our eager lips combine
Then let the fire start
For this time it isn't fascination
Or a dream that will fade and fall apart
It's love, this time it's love
My foolish heart
In these lyrics by Stan Getz, the singer warns himself to beware of his own foolish heart, which is being lured by the beauty of the night and the moon. He recognizes that there is a thin line between love and fascination, and that it is difficult to differentiate between the two - both giving off a similar, magical sensation during a kiss. Though the singer is wary of the closeness of the woman's lips, he acknowledges that should they kiss, it would ignite a flame between them. Whereas in the past, he may have felt only fascination or a temporary dream, this time it is true love that is at play.
The song is filled with symbolism and imagery surrounding the beauty of nature. The moon is ever-constant and pure, while the night is filled with the possibility of love and passion. The lyrics also touch on the feeling of being consumed by a kiss, and the thin line between love and infatuation. The mention of a "foolish" heart reminds the listener that emotions can be fickle and unpredictable, yet still overpowering.
Line by Line Meaning
The night is like a lovely tune
The beauty of the night is pleasing to the ear.
Beware my foolish heart
Be careful not to fall in love too quickly.
How white the ever constant moon
The illuminating moon reflects light that never fades.
Take care my foolish heart
Be alert and cautious when it comes to love.
There's a line between love and fascination
There is a fine separation between true love and mere fascination.
That's hard to see, how many names such as this
The distinction is not always clear and can go by multiple names.
For they both have the very same sensation
The feeling of love and fascination can be quite similar.
When you're locked in the magic of a kiss
The sensation is heightened when you are under the spell of a kiss.
Her lips are much too close to mine
The temptation is intense when her lips are in close proximity to mine.
But should our eager lips combine
If we give into temptation and kiss each other passionately...
Then let the fire start
Let passion take over and ignite intense emotions.
For this time it isn't fascination
This time around, it's not mere fascination...
Or a dream that will fade and fall apart
... nor is it a fleeting fantasy that will crumble away.
It's love, this time it's love
It's true love, finally making a grand entrance.
My foolish heart
Despite the caution and warning signs, my heart is still foolishly in love.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., SHAPIRO BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
Written by: NED WASHINGTON, VICTOR YOUNG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Peter D Broughton
One of my absolute favourite songs. This version is so beautiful. Only the wonderful Bill Evans version can rival it.
MJ Lejer
I saw Stan Getz perform this song long years ago on a dreamy Sunday afternoon in Sausalito, to lull the audience into a dreamy state after another rousing number before this one. Beautifully performed by one of the greats, a remarkable talent who is missed! He was a superb jazz musician and just as stunning with slow ballads like this one. It's difficult to believe he's been gone three decades, but his music lives on, and it's no wonder, because it is so addictive and requires repeating for the good feelings it gives the listener!
voicegirl555
29 years gone and still one of the great horn players of all time. We will never see your like again Stan. We are the poorer for it. Thank You for all the music you left behind and I do so love the way you play this song. It is one of my favorites and i feel every note.
Michael Chapman
I bought Stan's last album 'People Time' with Kenny Barron at an LA record store not long before Stan passed & unaware Stan was very ill, as fate would have it I went to a meeting not long after in the greater LA area one evening & Stan's son was there sharing about his famous musician dad who had recently passed, and not mentioning his Dad's name & as I turned my head I could readily see it was Stan's son & after the meeting, I introduced myself & we became friends... as a lifelong Stan Getz fan, it was a Sad moment & indelible connection with his son, Steve in the same breath & moment almost 30 yrs ago
voicegirl555
30 years gone today, but never never forgotten. This is one of my favorite songs and I very much like your take on it! Thank you Stan Getz for all the music you left behind.
William Sims
I love those changes towards the end and that double time during solo is lovely!!
adeduction
Wow! Pure Genius! Truly one of the greatest ever. Along with Coltrane and Rollins I don't think anyone will ever be capable of topping them period. No one can ever be better than the best ever.
Patrick Steinmetz
Johnny just took the words out my mouth. Nice to know other folks appreciate the finer things in life too.
Lisa K. Townsend, Writer
Sweet, sweet version of this. Stan Getz was so...emotive. Lot's to use from this to phrase a vocal line
Richard Condon
an amazing piece of music.