Chet Baker

Chet Baker - Cool Cat (1986)


MP3 ~ 256kbps ~ Cover ~ RS.com ~ 82mb
Genre: Jazz / cool, West Coast
Audio CD: January 1, 1989
Recorded 17 and 18 December 1986 at Studio 44, Monster, Holland
Time: 43:46
Label: Timeless CDSJP-262

AMG:
A pleasant set, distinguished for decent versions of Harold Danko's "Swift Shifting," Jon Burr's "Caravelle," and the Rodgers and Hart tune "Blue Moon," the trumpeter plays with a competent quartet that spurs him on. Although clearly weary, Baker's trumpet has some fire left, while his vocal articulation is below par. Still, the "feel" is always there, and even Baker on a less-than-perfect day is filled with joys. He solos on trumpet at length, at least as minimalist in style as ever. At this stage in his career, he remained capable of spine-tingling versions of "Round Midnight," with the trumpeter's laid-back breathy approach laying down perfectly placed notes. Pianist Danko is always worth hearing and drummer Ben Riley is his usual tasteful self. Bassist Jon Burr is a surprise, his big, juicy tone a pure pleasure. The tunes are just a tad different than usual, so Baker was forced to suspend his autopilot and dig in. Only partially satisfying, there are nonetheless enough worthwhile moments to recommend this one.

Chetbakertribute.com:
In the 1980's, Chet sang a lot during performances, mostly to rest his chops between trumpet solos. But Chet really did like to sing, and you'll hear some of his best here. Sometimes his vocals get so soft you have to turn up the volume just to hear him. Once again, Chet has surrounded himself with excellent musicians, particularly the great Harold Danko. Danko and Jon Burr also contribute some original material for Chet. I love the old standards, but I wish there were more tunes from those guys on this CD.

Personnel:
Chet Baker (vocals, trumpet)
Harold Danko (piano)
Jon Burr (bass)
Ben Riley (drums)


Tracks:

01. Swing Shifting (7:20)
02. Round Midnight (10:30)
03. Caravelle (5:47)
04. For All We Know (5:06)
05. Blue Moon (6:25)
06. My Foolish Heart (7:38)




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Chet Baker Quintet - At The Forum Theater (1956)


MP3 ~ 192kbps VBR ~ Covers & Scans ~ RS.com ~ 51mb
Genre: Jazz / cool, West Coast
Time: 42:03
Label: Fresh Sound FSRCD 9004


Chet Baker was already well known when he played a series of titles with his "Crew" in July, 1956. ...On Chet Baker Quintet At the Forum Theater, Fresh Sound (with the exception of one title) completes the material from this "Crew", which doubtless was one of the most brilliant combos ever to play with Chet Baker. Baker played his trumpet with instinctive sureness. Together with his partners, he shifted between the sound of the Baker/Mulligan Quartet and an enlightened bop-ideal. (The missing title from the Forum performance appears on 'Ensemble' and 'Sextet'.)

Chetbakertribute.com:
Just back from his first European tour, Chet spends the last week of July 1956 in a marathon recording session at L.A.'s Forum Theatre. A series of different sidemen come and go, with distinctly different results. In addition to the sessions listed here, Chet also recorded some of his 'Chet Baker Sings' tracks with Russ Freeman during this week. He also recorded the session that would become 'The Route' with Art Pepper.

The recordings found on these 3 CD's are definitely more bop than ballad. Highlights include "A Night on Bop Mountain" where Bill Loughbrough's BooBams take center stage. ... A lot of the material is original, penned by band members (Urso and Loughbrough) and other Baker associates (Al Haig). You can almost categorize these sessions as a perfect example of "West Coast Jazz".

Personnel:
Chet Baker (trumpet)
Phil Urso (tenor sax)
Bobby Timmons (piano)
Jimmy Bond (bass)
Peter Littman (drums)
Bill Loughbrough (chromatic tympani on #4 and #8)

Recorded at the Forum Theater, Los Angeles July 24th (Tracks 2 & 5), 25th (Track 1) and 31st (All Other Tracks), 1956.


Tracks:

01. Extra Mild (5:17)
02. Chippyin' (3:19)
03. Tabu (5:34)
04. A Night On Bop Mountain (4:15)
05. Jumpin Off A Clef (5:51)
06. I Can't Get Started (3:06)
07. Down (6:08)
08. Pawnee Junction (3:59)
09. Music To Dance To (4:34)




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Chet Baker Quartet - Live, Vol. 1 - This Time The Dream's On Me (1954)


MP3 ~ 192kbps ~ Cover ~ RS.com ~ 100mb
Genre: Jazz / cool, West Coast
Audio CD: August 1, 2000
Recorded: August 12, 1953; May 9, 1954
Tracks: 14
Time: 69:35
Label: Pacific Jazz

Amazon:
Chet Baker's reputation as a soft, lyrical trumpeter ignores the fact that he was by no means a lightweight performer in his prime. The title number here, a frighteningly uptempo treatment, shows just how strong his grip on time and technique really was. Baker was in his mid-20s, and the drugs that were to blight his life had not yet done any serious damage. These 13 pieces were recorded live at concerts in 1953 and 1954, with the excellent Russ Freeman on piano, Carson Smith on bass, and Larry Bunker and Bob Neel on drums. Gerry Mulligan once described Baker's playing as "just uncanny.... It's as simple as breathing with him." It is that simplicity and freshness which come over here, together with a gift for finding fascinating new twists to familiar phrases. He never quite lost it, but this was the best of him.

Allmusic.com:
Chet Baker's star rose rapidly during the 1950s and this CD marks the initial release of his earliest recorded concert as a leader, recorded at a 1953 Los Angeles engagement; it is combined with a 1954 Ann Arbor concert previously issued. The first performance took place following the dissolution of the quartet with Gerry Mulligan, caused by his partner's drug bust and subsequent prison sentence. Baker's group is extremely well rehearsed, starting with a rapid-fire take of "All the Things You Are." Pianist Russ Freeman, an important part of many of Baker's Pacific Jazz recordings, pushes Baker with his driving attack. The source tape wows a little during the introduction to "Isn't It Romantic," but the quartet's brisk run through the piece is flawless. Freeman's Latin- flavored "Maid in Mexico" received favorable reviews in its earlier studio version; this live take also swings rather well. "My Funny Valentine" begins with an almost over-dramatic drum roll and an outburst from a member of the audience, but Baker's lyrical trumpet saves the day. Bassist Carson Smith and drummer Larry Bunker round out the group heard during this set. The remainder of the music come from a 1954 Masonic Temple concert, with Bob Neel taking over the drums. Following Gerry Mulligan's softly swinging "Line for Lyons" (which was a hit for the Mulligan-Baker Quartet), Baker's updated look at "My Funny Valentine" still starts off with the same melodramatic drum roll but seems to come together much cleaner than the earlier live version heard on this CD. Likewise, the latter take of "Maid in Mexico" swings a bit harder. "Stella by Starlight" is the highlight of the Ann Arbor performance, though Baker's somewhat disguised introduction to "My Old Flame" makes it a close second. The balance of the master tapes on both concerts is inconsistent, though the strength of the performances should make up for any shortcomings of sound. Highly recommended.

Personnel:
Chet Baker (trumpet)
Russ Freeman (piano)
Carson Smith (bass)
Bob Neel (drums)


Tracks:

01. All the Things You Are (5:08)
02. Isn't It Romantic? (5:17)
03. Maid in Mexico (4:55)
04. My Funny Valentine (3:11)
05. This Time the Dream's on Me (5:07)
06. Introduction (:33)
07. Line for Lyons (6:57)
08. Lover Man (5:59)
09. My Funny Valentine (5:30)
10. Maid in Mexico (5:16)
11. Stella by Starlight (4:22)
12. My Old Flame (6:06)
13. Headline (5:05)
14. Russ Job (6:09)





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Chet Baker Quartet - Live, Vol. 2 - Out Of Nowhere (1954)


MP3 ~ 192kbps ~ RS.com ~ 80mb
Genre: Jazz / cool, West Coast
Audio CD: January 23, 2001
Recorded: 1953 -1954
Tracks: 9
Time: 57:24
Label: Pacific Jazz 7243 5 27693 2 2

Allmusic.com:
This is the second of three volumes covering the 1953-1954 quartet led by Chet Baker (trumpet). The contents of this single disc are split evenly between a short, five-song set from the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium in July of 1954 and the first 25 (give or take a few) minutes of an August 1954 performance at the infamous Tiffany Club in Los Angeles -- the balance of which is available on Quartet Live, Vol. 3: My Old Flame. Joining Baker are Russ Freeman (piano), Carson Smith (bass), and Bob Neel (drums). Their rich and seemingly incidental interaction epitomizes the distinctly carefree style associated with the West Coast cool subgenre of bebop jazz. The Civic Auditorium set sounds remarkable for a semi-professional open reel tape. Among the highlights of this first mini-set are the seminal chops exhibited on "Billie's Bounce" and a show-stopping reading of Carson Smith's frenetic "Carson City Stage." Baker's solos on this number are of particular note, if for no other reason than the absolute and unfettered joyful abandon with which he weaves the main melody between tasty and well-placed contributions from Freeman and Smith. A jolting bass solo commences an intense "No Ties" and likewise launches the listener headlong into the four Tiffany Club selections. Although subdued, these recordings bristle with the unmistakable energy and vibrancy of Baker and company at their zenith. This reading of "Deep Purple" features gentle, behind-the-beat interplay and counter-melodies weaving in and out more... of solos from Baker and Smith. Unlike the Santa Cruz show, these tapes were slated for release in the fall of 1955. For reasons that remain opaque at best, the tapes were shelved and remained on the whole unissued until the 1986 Mosaic Records Complete Pacific Jazz Live Recordings of Chet Baker With Russ Freeman box set. Although the limited-edition sets -- available on both 12" vinyl and CD -- were quickly snatched up by collectors, the complete performances have been condensed to two 24-bit remastered volumes.

#1-5 Recorded July 21, 1954, Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, Santa Cruz, California
#6-9 Recorded August 10, 1954, The Tiffany Club, Los Angeles
Previously issued on Complete Pacific Jazz Live Recordings of Chet Baker With Russ Freeman

Personnel:
Chet Baker (trumpet)
Russ Freeman (piano)
Carson Smith (bass)
Bob Neel (drums)


Tracks:

01. Billie's Bounce (10:21)
02. Stella by Starlight (4:53)
03. Line for Lyons (5:27)
04. Carson City Stage (4:54)
05. All the Things You Are (6:23)
06. No Ties (incomplete) (3:13)
07. Out of Nowhere (8:30)
08. Deep Purple (6:25)
09. Lady Bird (7:18)




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Charlie Parker and Chet Baker - Bird & Chet (1952)


MP3 ~ 320kbps VBR ~ RS.com ~ 77mb
Genre: Jazz / bop
Tracks: 4
Time: 42:59
Label: Fresh Sound / Jazz Door JD 1209

CDuniverse.com:
This jazz collector's gem captures a set by two tragic, self-destructive yet historically immortal giants at a club in Inglewood, CA, June 16 1952. As a bonus, the pair are joined by the late Sonny Criss, one of the best and most under-recognized Parker-influenced alto players. Parker was at this time an established musician, and Baker was just out of the Army, on his way up. The concert, which is excellently recorded with sharp, crisp detail, gives everyone a chance to stretch out beyond the confines of a recording studio.

Everyone here sounds inspired, with little wandering and no wasted notes. Baker sounds like he's been listening to a lot of Dizzy & Miles, and while his style hadn't yet fully formed, he more than keeps up with his company.

Parker and Criss play with rich-as-fudge, mercurial, blues-drenched tones. If you're a Parker fan, you should own this release. If you're a Baker fan, and you want a look at his early years, dig in. If you love live jazz (bop/mainstream style) albums, this is one of the better ones.

Note:
This record was made in the Trade Winds Club in Inglewood, California, on 16 June, 1952. It was re-issued in 1992 under the label Jazz Door (JD 1209). The sound quality is not ideal. There is apparently a warning on the original disk: "Historic Recording: please mind recording date when judging the sound quality".

Personnel:
Charlie Parker (alto saxophone)
Chet Baker (trumpet)
Sonny Criss (alto saxophone)
Al Haig (piano)
Harry Babasin (double bass)
Larance Marable (drums)


Tracks:

01. The Squirrel (Dameron) 15:00
02. Irresistable You (DePaul, Raye) 6:21
03. Indiana (Donna Lee) (Hanley, MacDonald, Parker) 11:25
04. Lisa (Gershwin, Gershwin) 10:13




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