Focus

Focus, recorded at Webster Hall in New York City and released in 1961 on Verve Records, stands as a singular entry in saxophonist Stan Getz's discography. Focus pairs Getz's expressive tenor saxophone with a string orchestra conducted by Hershy Kay. Getz's parts were entirely improvised, as he navigated pre-composed frameworks with melodic invention and emotional clarity. The album represents a true collaboration between composer/arranger Eddie Sauter and Getz, and a radical departure from the conventions of jazz "with strings" albums of the time. Sauter's charts emphasize contrapuntal writing, rhythmic complexity, and harmonic ambiguity, while Getz — unedited and unrehearsed in the traditional sense — weaves a lyrical, instinctive line throughout. The result remains one of the most original and artistically daring projects in Getz's recorded legacy; the artist's favorite of all the records he made.The Verve Vault Series is an exclusive vinyl reissue collection that brings the golden era of jazz back to life. Curated by Verve Label Group and UMe, this series offers audiophile-grade pressings of iconic jazz albums. Each release is meticulously mastered from original analog tapes and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal in Germany.