What the World Needs Now: Stan Getz Plays Bacharach and David

Long ignored by jazz folks who once thought the music of Burt Bacharach was beneath contempt, Stan Getz's collection of Bacharach-iana was no doubt rushed back into print in 1998 by the surprising resurgence of the composer's popularity among Gen X'ers. Truth to tell, though, is that this isn't one of Getz's better gigs; his tone is not in the best of shape, and he sounds bored with some of the tunes (like when he lazily throws a jaded quote from "Tea for Two" in the middle of "Alfie"). However, "Any Old Time of the Day" is pretty good, as is "Trains and Boats and Planes," and "A House Is Not a Home" really engages Getz's attention (it is the only track to top four minutes in length). Richard Evans supplies the routine string and brass charts on most of the tracks, and Claus Ogerman kicks in some others on three tracks, including some thoroughly useless voices. There are some top-flight jazzmen in the ranks -- Herbie Hancock, Jim Hall, Kenny Burrell, Chick Corea, Phil Upchurch -- but listeners only get to hear the latter two in the solo spotlight. ~ Richard S. Ginell