>> [Music: Stan Getz and the Oscar Peterson Trio "Pennies From Heaven"]
>> Stan Getz: I think what we did was in spite of the drugs.
The drugs were in the culture long before they reached the public.
The jazz musician's been in the forefront of the language that's used now,
the drugs that's used now. The whole attitude of the '80's
comes from the '40's. It started to manifest itself in the '60's.
>> [Music: "Pennies From Heaven" continues]
>> Stan Getz: Let me tell you what I think is a funny story about drugs.
We played at the Holyoke Arena with Woody Herman's band
on an afternoon concert, nine acts of vaudeville and they had on it a trained bear.
The trained bear came out. This was a big bear.
This guy had to be nine feet or something.
>>[Music: Charlie Byrd and Stan Getz "One Note Samba"]
Stan Getz: It was afternoon, Holyoke Arena, and the bear came out
and the two on each side of Sam Marowitz, the lead alto player
who was very straight-laced, no drugs, no drinking,
were Serge, Zoot, Al Cohn and I, stoned.
>> [Music: "One Note Samba" continues]
>> Stan Getz: The bear was doing his thing with the trainer, comes around.
His arm goes ... At one point, the bear came around
and his arm went over the saxophone section like this
and could've killed five guys at once.
Only Sam Marowitz had to duck because the rest of us were sitting there
reading the music with the bear and so stoned we never knew the bear came over us.
>> [Music: "One Note Samba" continues]
>> Stan Getz: They used to claim that Woody's band were faggots
because we were so stoned we didn't care to go for the women.
There were no faggots on that band. Jazz music is a man's game. Let's face it.
>> Joe Smith: Even when you were so much involved with both drugs and alcohol, you played well.
>> Stan Getz: We played well all the time. You can do anything with practice.
I'm sure we could've played better if we weren't.
>> [Music: Stan Getz "Lush Life"]
>> Stan Getz: I'm a recovered alcoholic. I don't do anything anymore,
but those things, those things take away ...
I mean you're a different personality completely when you take those.
For those that are really chemically dependent on anything, it's not you.
Of course, I've done some dastardly things,
but what can I do except make amends and apologize?
Since I stopped drinking, which is almost a year ago,
I've started to feel like I'm a member of the world. I never was.
I was so fucked up all my life.
>> [Music: "Lush Life" continues]
>> Stan Getz: I had a 10-year heroin habit and kicked that.
Then I became an alcoholic. I drank two fifth's a day.
>> Joe Smith: What finally triggered this [crosstalk]
>> Stan Getz: It's just like they say at Alcoholics Anonymous.
I was either and/or going insane or I was going to die.
I was one of those guys who was in constant denial.
Look, I work. I do my job. I support my family, boom.
I do everything I was supposed to do. If I want a drink, fuck you, I'll drink.
>> [Music: "Lush Life" continues]
>> Stan Getz: It's a disease and it took me that long.
It took me 45 years from the time I was 15 until I was... now
and I just wouldn't believe it. I could drink.
I'd get up there and play and I don't remember.
Most of my records I don't remember making.
>> [Music: Stan Getz and Bill Evans "Night and Day"]
>> Joe Smith: Do you enjoy playing in front of people, concerts, tours?
>> Stan Getz: More and more these days when I'm alcohol-free now
and even to see the world around me, I appreciate it,
but I never truly enjoy too much of it maybe because I feel like I'm a working musician.
There are some joyous moments, but I will not think a joyous moment.
Hearing myself so much all the time,
I don't think I sound that special all the time because it's me.
>> Joe Smith: Do you get tired of being a musician at all
or are there times when ... ?
>> Stan Getz: The day that I think I've got it done
maybe I will until then, no. It's different every night.
>> [Music: "Night and Day" continues]
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