Stan Getz - The Lost Interview

Thanks to the generosity of the family of Norwegian musician and broadcaster Harald Gundhus, Jazz FM broadcast a UK-exclusive never-before-heard interview with American jazz giant Stan Getz on Tuesday 2nd February.

Marking what would have been the legendary but troubled saxophonist’s 94th birthday, this special ‘lost’ broadcast interview was recorded backstage at the Nice Jazz Festival in 1987, four years before his death, and Gundhus manages to extract some quite beautiful answers from a normally sullen Getz. On the tape, he reflects on his life and career, including his time spent in Europe, and his substantial contributions to Bossa Nova and jazz education.

Provided to Jazz FM via Harald’s son Svein and the musician Emil Viklicky, they have uncovered this rare interview which in great condition, giving it the first chance for broadcast in 34 years.

The programme will be hosted by Jazz FM’s resident Stan Getz fan, presenter Helen Mayhew, who said: “Stan talks candidly about his start in music, his mentors and influences, and about some of the most important musical milestones in his life. It’s a wonderful insight into the man whose playing is still one of the most beautiful and instantly-recognisable sounds in jazz.”

Catchup: Stan Getz - The Lost Interview

Stan Getz - The Lost Interview quotes

Stan Getz on playing with other musicians and their influences:

“I did some time playing with Benny Goodman and that was a tremendous experience. He was a great instrumentalist. And then between that time somebody played me my first Lester Young record, and I fell in love with the way he played. So beautiful, almost classical. And then, of course, when the four saxophones got together and Woody Herman's band, we all loved each other's playing very much.

I think my influence is not only from just a few players, it's from all music that you hear that you fall in love with. Nowadays, I don't listen to too much jazz. You hear a jazz record once or twice, and you've heard it you know it, except for the few classics. What I listen to every day is classical music, classical music is very purifying, and dignifying.”

Stan Getz on his influential time leading the Bossa Nova sound:

“I had never been to Brazil when I made all the Bossa Nova records, I made five Bossa Nova records in thirteen months, which have sold maybe 50 million records up to now. They were all made in the United States. And when I heard the record of Antonio Carlos Jobim’s music as recorded by Astrud Gilberto, I fell in love with the Bossa Nova. I didn't think of it as a commercial vehicle or anything. I just love the music. That's why I play music because I love it. I don't premeditate anything. Yeah, I think the people were ready for it. I played the music as I play any music - with full love and being proud of it.”

Stan Getz on his music:

“You don't judge your own music. You just do it. You do as you feel. That's why I love jazz music. That's why I've been in it all my life. Because it's never the same. It's as you feel at that particular time. I think it's what keeps jazz musicians young. Every night they go to work and they wear their heart on their sleeve, and it comes out in their music.

I don't premeditate anything I do or have ever done. But just something like when a dog is thirsty, he'll go and look for water and drink it. He doesn't even know what he's doing. If my music sounds more like it's composing, then it's because it's becoming more polished. And my improvisation seems almost as if they're compositions if that's what you feel. But I don't think about anything like that. I mean, jazz is the less thought that you give to what you want to achieve, and the more thought you give to playing what you want just for that very night. I don't premeditate or plan.”

• stan getz
• nice jazz festival
• helen mayhew