Stan Getz - Marrakesh Express

It is highly likely that the meeting of Stan Getz with The Beatles producer George Martin – and their occasional arranger, Richard Hewson – was never meant to be aimed at a jazz audience.  The record sleeve contains little of the detail that might cause jazz fans to salivate and enquire further of the music contained within.  The song selection is drawn (mostly) from the late-60s easy-listening oeuvre (Both Sides Now, Cecilia, Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head) and the mood is fairly lightweight throughout.  Stanley The Steamer is nowhere in sight.

This LP has what jazz collectors sometimes call a sister album – another middle-of-the-road affair, Didn’t We, recorded the same year (1969) with bandleader Johnny Pate.  However, whilst Didn’t We has seen a (very limited) CD reissue in Japan (plus iTunes and Spotify streaming), Marrakesh Express has not appeared on CD nor download (with the exception of the title track – it turned up on a 1997 Verve various artists compilation, Talkin’ Verve With A Twist and on a 6-CD George Martin compilation set from 2001, Produced By George Martin). 

Stan Getz’s Marrakesh Express is a lifestyle statement, from the days when all record collections would typically include both Bridge Over Troubled Water and Abbey Road.  Here is something that was a cut above the bargain-basement muzak to be found in the 10-shilling LP spinner at the local supermarket.  A true sophisticate would have demonstrated THIS on the hi-fi, on the new stereogram, rather than a budget-label Geoff Love LP that had been added to the weekly shopping bill in Lipton’s. And of course, the demonstration would have been performed by one attired in comfortable slacks, roll-neck sweater and suede slip-ons. 

Purists may wish to look away, but beneath the MOR gleam there is, however, plenty to probe, relish and most of all, dig.  The first few bars of track 1, side 1 feature a percussive/pizzicato figure that leads off into a determined, revved-up reading of Graham Nash’s hit song from the 1st Crosby Stills & Nash album – with the addition of some wicked horn stabs.  Johnny Mandel’s Just A Child follows and is nothing less than pure Getz, complete with moody strings and full-on big band punch.  And whilst the MOR hits might appear to tread water, there is genuine depth and feel within the playing and arrangements in Nina Rota’s Love Theme From Romeo & Juliet, Lennon’s Because and most of all, Bacharach’s The April Fools.  And that’s not to say that the kitsch and cheese of Harry Nilsson’s Without Her and Bacharach’s Never Fall In Love Again are unworthy additions to what is an exceptional album of its kind.  It’s all a part of a very grand design. 

Unlike Didn’t We, the sound quality of this vinyl album is very good indeed.  The true fidelity of the recording on Didn’t We was not revealed until the CD issue came (and went); thankfully the American MGM copy of Marrakesh Express that has been ripped here is both in superb condition and is a genuine hi-fi vinyl record.  I would go so far as to say that the rip that I have made of this record is amongst the best batch yet.

Players

Stan Getz (tenor)

Richard Hewson (arranger, conductor)

George Martin - producer

Unidentified orchestra

NYC, 1969

download here

Track listing

1.       Marrakesh Express

2.       Just A Child

3.       I'll Never Fall In Love Again 

4.       Both Sides Now       

5.       Without Her             

6.       Cecilia         

7.       Love Theme From Romeo & Juliet   

8.       Because - Do You Know The Way To San Jose   

9.       Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head

10.   The April Fools

True Getz fans will require no further guidance, but everyone else should watch out for the following under-rated and overlooked Stan Getz records to file alongside Marrakesh Express.  Good hunting.

Children Of The World (CBS/Columbia, 1979).  It’s the one with the Peanuts cartoon cover.  Ignore the opening track (Don’t Cry For Me Argentina, recorded at the request of record company boss Bruce Lundvall) and head straight for the fabulous Summer Poem.  The rest will fall into place.  Easy to find on vinyl, available on iTunes, but the CD is incredibly elusive.  Hated by the critics.  I’m kinda glad of that.  What would they know?

Stan Getz and Arthur Fielder At Tanglewood (RCA Red Seal, 1966).  Dispense with the lightweight version of Girl From Ipanema and the remainder is a symphonic jazz heaven – an absolute poem of a record. This album is also known as A Song After Sundown on the RCA Bluebird CD version.  Both CD and vinyl are relatively easy to find – a recent check on Amazon had the CD at under £3.  The Bluebird version corrects the running order by placing the (somewhat unnecessary) recording of Ipanema at the end.

Didn’t We (Verve 1969).  Now available on Spotify, iTunes and Amazon for download.  The European vinyl copies are easy to find, but sound terrible.  I haven’t heard an American pressing, so can’t comment.  The CD is stunning.  Getz, strings, romance all in a huge soundstage - you need this record and you need it bad.