I’m resurrecting my Chet Baker thread from 2021/22 that received a modest amount of replies and so will hopefully be of interest again to some of you.
I’m going to try something a little different this time and go through my own collection Chronologically in order of recording not release posting photographs, giving each record some context with some of my own thoughts to hopefully prompt some discussion and what would be really nice some of your recommendations.
My collection is quite large but by no means extensive Chet was prolific especially in the 1970’s and '80’s so your input is very welcome to help me fill in some of the gaps in my collection.
Side A tracks 1 & 5 recorded at Phil Turetskys Home Studio, Los Angeles, CA, February 1, 1953
Side A tracks 2,3 & 4 recorded in Hollywood, CA, January 30, 1953
Side B recorded at The Haig, Hollywood, CA January 25, 1953.
After Chet came out of the Army in 1951 he hooked up with both Vido Musso and Stan Getz before he was famously chosen from scores of other top trumpet players by Charlie ‘The Bird’ Parker to play with him on a series of concerts down the West Coast.
The next year Chet joined The Gerry Mulligan Quartet and garnered a lot of attention with his improvised playing style and was a regular playing with with the quartet around the clubs in Los Angeles like the Tiffany and the Haig where the above LP was recorded.
A beautiful record @Mr Dom not sure how many of Chet’s Steeplechase releases you have we’ll get to them all eventually such a great period for Chet fans.
Chet Baker Quartet Records Eight Sides was originally released in the US as a self titled 10" called Chet Baker Quartet with the same 8 songs except for The Lamp is Low which on 'Eight Sides was replaced with Winter Wonderland.
1954 was a big year for Chet he won both the Downbeat and Metronome readers polls for best trumpet player beating the likes of Miles Davis & Clifford Brown. Chet was also voted Best Jazz vocalist by Downbeats readers.
He also recorded his first vocal record
Chet Baker Sings on Pacific Jazz first released in 1954 on 10" backed by Russ Freeman on piano, Carson Smith on bass and Bob Neel on drums and of course produced of course by Richard Brock.
Recorded on February 15, 1954 at Capitol Studios in Hollywood
Chet’s vocals though really liked by the public where not as well received by the critics the LP was though a commercial success so much so that Richard Brock re released it in 1956 with extra tracks on 12". This is the version I have reissued in 2020 on the Blue Note, Tone Poet series.
The extra tracks on Side 2 of the reissue featured Russ Freeman on Piano, Jimmy Bond on Bass and both Pete Littman and Lawrence Marble on drums and where recorded on July 23 & 30, 1956 at the Forum Theatre, LA.
Chet Baker Sings - Pacific Jazz 12" (1956) Reissue (2020) Tone Poet
That Old Feeling 2:59
It’s Always You 4:17
Like Someone In Love 3:26
My Ideal 4:19
I’ve Never Been In Love Before 4:25
My Buddy 3:16
But Not For Me 3:00
Time After Time 2:44
I Get Along Without You Very Well 2:54
My Funny Valentine 2:14
There Will Never Be Another You 2:55
The Thrill Is Gone 2:46
I Fall In Love Too Easily 3:16
Look For The Silver Lining 2:36
1955 was a very busy year for Chet and also a very tragic one.
I don’t want to sensationalise or glamourise Chet’s drug use I deleted an earlier post that mentioned it but where he is concerned I don’t believe you can separate the two, the negative impact it had just when crossover stardom awaited in this part of his career, the complete absence of any meaningful output during the middle of his career and the absolute driving force behind much of his later output recorded to fund hid addiction.
But before Chet’s ill fated trip to Europe later in 1955 he recorded another part vocal LP for French label Barclay, Chet Baker Sings And Plays With Bud Shank, Russ Freeman And Strings was released on Pacific Jazz during 1955.
Chet Baker – Chet Baker Sings And Plays With Bud Shank, Russ Freeman And Strings, Pacific Jazz PJ1202 (1955)
I have the Blue Note/Tone Poet reissue (2023)
