Stan Getz
Tenor Sax Solo on
Stars Fell on Alabama

About

Stan Getz's tenor saxophone solo on "Stars Fell on Alabama" is the only solo on this 1952 ballad from Stan Getz Plays. He takes a quarter chorus of the 32-bar AABA form at a gentle 64 BPM in G. Stan jumps back to the bridge after playing the melody and then solos only over the B section. This concise approach to Frank Perkins's standard is consistent with Getz's ballad method throughout the album, focusing the improvisation on the harmonic interest of the bridge while allowing the melody's beauty to speak through his warm, singing tone.

Stan Getz was 24 to 25 years old at the time.