UMe/Verve/Acoustic Sounds Classic Jazz Reissues Reviewed: Getz Au Go-Go; The Great Kai & J.J.;  Sonny Rollins’ Alfie

Three excellent new vinyl reissues from Universal Music’s Verve Records in conjunction with the esteemed Acoustic Sounds organization — featuring Sonny Rollins, Stan Getz with Astrud Gilberto and J.J. & Kai with Bill Evans — offer many riches for listeners in search of fine classic vintage jazz that also sounds great. All titles in this series feature exemplary remastering, lacquers cut from original analog tapes and high quality 180-gram vinyl from Quality Record Pressing. Each album comes housed in deluxe original style packaging (often surpassing rare originals). All releases supervised by Chad Kassem, CEO of Acoustic Sounds.

These titles sell for between $36 and $39 which you can purchase via Amazon at links embedded in the titles below.

Stan Getz – Getz Au Go-Go (Verve Records, 1964)

Capturing Stan Getz at the height of his Bossa Nova renaissance alongside acclaimed vocalist Astrud Gilberto, this album is culled from two 1964 New York club appearances. This showcase came just two months after their “Girl From Ipanema” exploded as a Top 5 single release. There is no question about the quality of this slinky-sexy sax-driven mod-a-go-go Brazilian-fueled jazz of the times.

But I suspect you may be wondering why a reissue like this is even needed if if was such a popular album? Well in actuality, it was so popular pretty much every original copy of this album that I’ve come across on the used market has been pretty beat up – or at minimum “well loved” (ie. played a lot!). This was a party album, clearly.  Only seven “near mint” original 1964-era copies are for sale via internet music marketplace Discogs at the time of this writing, mostly in the $60 – $100 range.  It’s simply not easy to find a real clean copy! I finally caved in several years ago, settling for a quite nice 1980s Japanese import. This new edition smokes that version, capturing all that honey-rich Getz saxophone and Gilberto’s sultry voice perfectly. 

J.J. Johnson & Kai Winding – The Great Kai & J.J. (Impulse! Records, 1960)

Of the three titles here this one is possibly the most expendable but for some it will be the most important. Technically it is “the first” release on legendary, super influential Jazz label, Impulse! Records. While I’m not a huge fan of popular trombone duo J.J. and Kai, the supporting cast here is stellar: Bill Evans (piano), Paul Chambers (bass) and Art Taylor & Roy Haynes (drums). 

Evans kinda steals the show, frankly. Even the official press materials for this release point out: “Evans’ playing, in particular, raises this album beyond a mere Kai & J.J. and spotlights the group as a whole.”  In fact, I file my well-loved original under Bill Evans and that’s probably where I will put this fine sounding fresh Stereo reissue (which may well replace it). 

Sonny Rollins – Alfie (Impulse! Records, 1966)

Alfie is my favorite from this new trio of releases. Although, prior to hearing this album, I must admit that I had not fully connected with legendary saxophonist Sonny Rollins’ works. I know he’s revered and I respect him immensely, especially for his playing with other artists. But this album may be “the one” to make me a deeper fan.

Featuring beautiful arrangements by producer Oliver Nelson (he of The Blues and the Abstract Truth fame) this is not a throwaway mid-60s faux-jazz soundtrack. These heartfelt performances, based on “original music from the score,” are alive, vibrant and hard-bopping jazz impressions. Here Mr. Rollins is backed by a smoking band including guitarist Kenny Burrell, bassist Walter Booker and drummer Frank Dunlop.

What more can can I say? This is the transportive Rollins’ music I’ve been seeking!

Mark Smotroff is a deep music enthusiast / collector who has also worked in entertainment oriented marketing communications for decades supporting the likes of DTS, Sega and many others. He reviews vinyl for Analog Planet and has written for Audiophile Review, Sound+Vision, Mix, EQ, etc.  You can learn more about him at LinkedIn.