In his dual role as a trumpeter and as a singer, Chet Baker was one of the most romantic jazz performers ever; he was able to reach climaxes of intense feeling and intimacy. This 60-track, 3-CD set compiles some of his best performances, all of them studio recordings with excellent sound quality. Among the highlights are three different readings of “My Funny Valentine”, a song Baker made into a classic, “Alone Together”, and Billy Strayhorn’s celebrated “Lush Life”. Baker is accompanied here by other jazz giants such as Bill Evans, Russ Freeman, Gerry Mulligan, Pepper Adams, Kenny Burrell, Kenny Drew, Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones.
PERSONNEL:
CHET BAKER,
trumpet & vocals, with:
COLLECTIVE PERSONNEL:
Gerry Mulligan, Pepper Adams (bar), Bill Evans, Russ Freeman, Kenny Drew (p),
Kenny Burrell (g), Carson Smith, George Morrow, Paul Chambers, Leroy Vinnegar (b), Chico Hamilton, Philly Joe Jones, Dannie Richmond, Connie Kay (d), among others.
Recorded in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Paris and Milan, between 1952 & 1959.