Early Autumn

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Early Autumn (m. Ralph J. Burns, Woody Herman w. Johnny Mercer)

Woody Herman and his Orchestra featuring Stan Getz – recorded 30 December 1948, Hollywood, CA — Stan Fishelson, Bernie Glow, Bill Harris, Red Rodney, Shorty Rogers, Ernie Royal (tp) Earl Swope, Ollie Wilson (tb) Bob Swift (btb) Woody Herman (cl, as, vo) Sam Marowitz (as) Al Cohn , Stan Getz, Zoot Sims (ts) Serge Chaloff (bars) Terry Gibbs (vib, vo) Lou Levy (p) Chubby Jackson (b, vo) Don Lamond (d)

Reviewing the recording for Jazz.com, Ted Gioia wrote [link defunct]:

When asked about this solo years later, Getz noted that he didn’t own copies of his old recordings, then added: “I don’t remember what I played on it. . . . My music is something that’s done and forgotten about.” Yet this was the performance that created the first buzz of fame that would establish Getz as a name attraction in the jazz world. And if Getz didn’t recall what he played on the date, many musicians and fans committed his phrases to memory. Ralph Burns’s chart is a perfect vehicle for the tenorist, and the sax section is luminous even before Getz steps forward. But his solo is a perfectly poised statement, and an important milestone in the development of the cool jazz idiom.

Jo Stafford with Paul Weston & his Orchestra – B-side of the single Jambalaya/Early Autumn, 1952

George Shearing Quintet with String Choir – from Satin Affair, 1961

Johnny Mathis – from his 1957 LP Wonderful, Wonderful

Anita O’Day – from the 1958 album, Anita O’Day Sings the Winners; arrangement and orchestra direction by Marty Paich

Cleo Laine – second track on I Am a Song, 1973

Joe Lovano – From the album I’m All for You – Ballad Songbook (Blue Note) 2004 — Joe Lovano, tenor saxophone – Hank Jones, piano – George Mraz, double bass – Paul Motian, drums