Jazz Riffing on a Lost Worcester: Stan Getz Quartet Live at Sir Morgan’s Cove, 1973

By David "Chet" Williamson Sneade

Compared to the club’s most storied appearance, this show on Green Street may not even be considered. After all, people around here are still recovering from the Rolling Stones’ hit and run performance in 1981.

To Worcester jazz heads, however, it is just as highly regarded. As one maven of the music put it, “Stan Getz made the Cove famous eight years before the Stones rolled into town.”

Discovering that the gig was recorded is more than enough reason to celebrate. This is big. What if after all these years a tape of the Stones show was rediscovered and made available – which inevitably will happen -- it would sell out in a day, no doubt purchased by the many who claimed that they were there.

In 1973, Stan Getz was already a living legend. He was a survivor whose roller-coaster career reached back to the 1940s, one that was battered by heroin addictions and battled-tested by passing trends within the music from bebop to cool school, soul jazz, the bossa nova, free jazz, jazz fusion, and beyond. Through it all, he remained a masterful improviser who continued to work on his art. In a word, Getz was great.

In 1973, he was in our town to mystify us with his magic. Not just for “One Night Only.” The stay was actually for the week -- which makes you think that maybe other nights were also recorded.

The hype on the CD reads: “ALL TRACKS PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED!” It also states, “This release presents a complete never before heard set by an unusual formation of the Stan Getz Quartet, which would never record again. This is one of only three-known collaborations between Getz and Dave Holland.

“Among the highlights are Getz’s only known renditions of Thelonious Monk’s ‘Pannonica’ and Dave Holland’s ‘Oracle’ (which Holland wouldn’t record until 1986), a poignant version of Billy Strayhorn’s ‘Lush Life,’ the second out of only two existing Getz’ readings of ‘Tangerine’ (the first dates from 1953), and a seven-minute interview with the saxophonist.”

Jack Tubert's column on Stan Kenton and Getz

Yes, there is much to celebrate about this disc, but there is also a great deal to reconsider, critique, and frankly, dismiss.

First the facts: It should be noted that these recordings have been floating around the internet for years. It was finally unofficially released on the Gambit label last year -- unofficially, because the Getz family did not know of its existence.

Stan Getz Quartet, Live at Sir Morgan’s Cove, 1973 is a two-disc release with 18-tracks and an eight-page booklet. The band is saxophonist Getz, pianist Albert Bailey, bassist Dave Holland, and drummer Billy Hart.

Albert Dailey

Thirteen of the songs are from the Worcester date. Five other selections are bonus tracks that feature Getz in performance with the Kurt Edelhagen Orchestra. That date was recorded in Funkhaus, Hannover,

Germany on October 26, 1971,

two years prior to the Cove set.

Bassist Dave Holland

The Cove set list looks like this: “On Green Dolphin Street,” “Original Ballad,” “La Fiesta,” “Pannonica,” “Tangerine,” “The Oracle,” “What is This Thing Called Love,” “Invitation,” “Here’s That Rainy Day,” “Litha,” “500 Miles High,” and “Lush Life.”

Billy Hart

There is a short (7:29) interview conducted by a trio of unknown interviewers, who do not identify what they represent. The conversation begins with an unidentified person stating that he is accompanied by “Vance (possibly Clayton Vancellette of the Toe Tappin’ Trad Trip, heard on WICN at the time) and Bobbie Bean.” At the end of the conversation, Getz thanks someone named Joe.

Getz is relaxed and forthright. He fields a host of inane questions professionally and generously. At one point, he admits to liking the process of “live recordings very much” -- possibly the only redeeming tidbit of the entire conversation.

The performance of the music is what to like here. Getz presents a program that features an artist in transition. He offers material that is current and cutting edge as well as standard repertoire.

Six months earlier he fronted a band that featured pianist Chick Corea. Getz plays three of Chick’s tunes in this show – “La Fiesta,” “Litha,” and “500 Miles High.” As mentioned he also performs Holland’s “Oracle,” new music from the bassist who had previously performed with Miles Davis as part of the famous Bitches Brew sessions. The other more modern leaning piece is Monk’s “Pannonica.”

Getz is in fine form. His signature sound is well represented. The performance showcases his lyricism and command of his instrument. He is a masterful improviser who never loses his threads. His band mates are well chosen accompanists who each have moments of brilliance throughout.

As precious a recording this is, it also suffers from a spate of sins – mostly those of omission, including the fact that little or no information is offered about the “who-what-whys-and-hows” of capturing the performance. All we know is that it was released in 2011 by Gambit Records.

Jerry Kopoyan, of Immedia, sound company in Worcester, did engineering for WAAF in the 1970s. He says he was often hired to do remote broadcasts from the Cove for the station at the time. He recalls being on hand for many shows, including Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Buddy Rich, among others, but says he does not remember the Getz show. He did however say that, “most of the shows were not recorded. They were simply broadcast live and forgotten.”

As mentioned, the Getz show had been floating around for years.

On Bit Torrent site has the date set as 1972. They also note that it was recorded directly off the soundboard -- “apparently recorded for a radio broadcast.”

According to another bit torrent page (see listing below) the show was captured by “SBD open reel, recorded on-stage” and 1st Generation Ampex 456 reels.”

The unidentified person who uploaded the recording offers its history, saying, “A friend copied these off the masters in the 1970s. He tried to conserve tape by stopping/starting the recording machine after songs so as not to record the space between songs. He seems to have missed some of the beginnings of some of the songs (but at least one or two may be from the master).

“He gave me the reels in exchange for blanks in the early 1980s. I had to bake the tapes before digitizing. I am not planning on doing this again, but if folks think it’s necessary, then I'm willing to do it (but it might be as long as a year before I get around to it).

“Apparently the original recordist had many recordings of great jazz from the ‘50s through the ‘70s. He moved away from Worcester to Florida and retired and my friend lost track of him.”

Before signing off, the Bit Torrent person offers his opinion of the music: “This is a beautiful recording and super sweet show with incredible musicians. Stan Getz' sax is so typically smooth, while the totally under-appreciated Albert Dailey just dances on the keys. Dave Holland and Billy Hart – well, what can you say? Man! What a quartet!”

The most glaring omission is an incomplete version of “Litha.” What’s interesting here is unlike other sites that have downloaded the show, this person lists the song titles in the same order of the Gambit release.

Club History

Sir Morgan's Cove at 139 Green Street

The original Sir Morgan’s Cove was opened in 1969 at 139 Green Street. By 1973, the owners, Gus Giordano and John Rassias, sold the club to Pete Zavares, who also owned a restaurant on Main Street -- the one with the ship façade jutting out into the sidewalk. After a series of fires and new owners, the venue was moved to its current locale at 89 Green Street, home to the Lucky Dog Café.

The Yankee Whaler, one-time Main Street restaurant

In its heyday, the Cove offered more than just classic rock. At one point, jazz and blues were staples on the menu and such acts as Mose Allison, Les McCann, George Benson, as well as Muddy Waters, and James Cotton appeared on the marquee. In fact, Willie Dixon and the Chicago Blues All-stars appeared at club Oct. 29th through November 4, 1973.

Many of the entertainers played for an entire week. According to the Worcester Telegram & Gazette ads, Stan Getz was booked Nov. 12-18 in 1973. Therefore, the November 11th recording date is suspect.

Back cover of Sir Morgan's CD

Other than the fact that the piano is dreadfully out of tune and the 2-CD disc is outrageously priced -- anywhere between $23-30 -- Stan Getz Quartet Live at Sir Morgan’s Cove 1973 is must have for all local jazz fans – especially if you were there.

This is a work in progress. Send all comments to: walnutharmonicas@gmail.com Thank you.

Resources

http://www.jazzmessengers.com/category96/STAN-GETZ-GAMBIT-LIVE-AT-SIR-MORGAN'S-COVE-1973-96208

http://archive.jazzweek.com/2012-January/055088.html

Bit torrent

See: http://www.mindwarppavilion.org/smf/audio-announcements/torrent-announce-stan-getz-1972-sir-morgans-cove-worcester-ma-soundboard-t6452.0.html

Getz discographies

* note that 1973 is missing

http://www.jazzdisco.org/stan-getz/discography/

http://www.stangetz.net/discography.html

http://www.jazzdisco.org/stan-getz/discography/ and (Italian)

http://digilander.iol.it/nrascio/Getz1970.htm