Stanley Getz (February 2, 1927 – June 6, 1991) was an American
jazz saxophonist. Playing primarily the
tenor saxophone, Getz was known as "The Sound" because of his warm, lyrical tone, his prime influence being the wispy, mellow timbre of his idol,
Lester Young. Coming to prominence in the late 1940s with
Woody Herman's
big band, Getz is described by critic
Scott Yanow as "one of the all-time great tenor saxophonists". Getz went on to perform in
bebop,
cool jazz and
third stream, but is perhaps best known for popularizing
bossa nova, as in the worldwide hit single "
The Girl from Ipanema" (1964).