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 systemβs 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, JoΓ£o 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 SilfverskiΓΆld on 3 November 1956 and had two children with her: Pamela and Nicolas. In 1957 Swedish girlfriend Inga TorgnΓ©r 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.
Polka Dots And Moonbeams
Stan Getz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I felt a bump and heard an "Oh, beg your pardon"
Suddenly I saw polka dots and moonbeams
All around a pug-nosed dream
The music started and was I the perplexed one
I held my breath and said "May I have the next one?"
In my frightened arms, polka dots and moonbeams
There were questions in the eyes of other dancers
As we floated over the floor
There were questions but my heart knew all the answers
And perhaps a few things more
Now in a cottage built of lilacs and laughter
I know the meaning of the words "Ever after"
And I'll always see polka dots and moonbeams
When I kiss the pug-nosed dream
The song starts by giving us a picturesque image of a country dance being held in a garden. The singer bumps into someone and apologizes, but is suddenly struck by the sight of polka dots and moonbeams all around a pug-nosed dream. These lines describe the moment of attraction, when everything else fades away, and all the singer can see are the dots and beams, and the person they are looking at.
The second paragraph tells us that the music has started, and the singer approaches the pug-nosed dream and asks for the next dance. In their arms, the polka dots and moonbeams continue to sparkle, implying that this feeling of attraction and enchantment is not fleeting, but continues throughout the dance. The third line, "There were questions in the eyes of other dancers", hints at the fact that the singer may not have been the only one bewitched by the pug-nosed dream's charms.
The third paragraph is where the song takes a romantic turn, as we learn that the singer is now in a cottage with the pug-nosed dream, surrounded by lilacs and laughter, and experiencing the joy of "ever after". The final line of the song - "And I'll always see polka dots and moonbeams when I kiss the pug-nosed dream" - reinforces the timeless nature of their love, and the fact that they will always be under each other's spell.
Line by Line Meaning
A country dance was being held in a garden
There was a dance event being hosted in an open garden with a country theme.
I felt a bump and heard an "Oh, beg your pardon"
I accidentally bumped into someone and heard them apologizing for the incident.
Suddenly I saw polka dots and moonbeams
All of a sudden, I noticed an attractive pattern of polka dots and shining moonbeams.
All around a pug-nosed dream
It was surrounding a cute, small-nosed person who I found desirable.
The music started and was I the perplexed one
As soon as the music began, I was confused and unsure of what to do.
I held my breath and said "May I have the next one?"
I nervously asked for the privilege of dancing with the person I found attractive.
In my frightened arms, polka dots and moonbeams
While embracing that person, I noticed the same lovely pattern of polka dots and moonbeams again.
Sparkled on a pug-nosed dream
That same attractive person with the cute nose was shining and glowing brightly in my arms.
There were questions in the eyes of other dancers
Other dancers were curious and curious about what was happening between me and that person.
As we floated over the floor
As we danced gracefully, moving smoothly on the dance floor.
There were questions but my heart knew all the answers
Although there were unspoken questions, my heart was confident that it held all the right answers.
And perhaps a few things more
I may have even known a few more things that others were unaware of.
Now in a cottage built of lilacs and laughter
In a happy home made of lovely flowers and joyful memories.
I know the meaning of the words "Ever after"
I finally understand the true essence of the phrase "happily ever after."
And I'll always see polka dots and moonbeams
I will forever associate that beautiful pattern with fond memories of that special person.
When I kiss the pug-nosed dream
Whenever I kiss that same attractive person with the adorable nose.
Lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Broma 16, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAMES VAN HEUSEN, JIMMY VAN HEUSEN, JOHNNY BURKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
James Matheson, Jr.
It says on the graphic that it is Bob Brookmeyer.
BuckshotLaFunke1
Yes, I think so.
crow1938
Bob Brookmeyer, ne?