Rating:
Genre: Jazz
Release Date: 01/07/2008

The early '50s saw Chet Baker honing his talents on the trumpet, plying his craft in hard bop and cool jazz. Singing was not yet his forté, but playing with strings, as he does here on select tracks, probably left many of his fans nonplussed. This double-CD collection with a whopping 45 tracks gives an example of the diverse Baker, not necessarily his best from start to finish. The value in this project is the inclusion of the long neglected pianist and composer Russ Freeman, who is represented by seven compositions and his wonderful playing. Equally important is the contribution of saxophonist/composer Jack Montrose, a criminally neglected jazz figure who shows up on five vital cuts, as well as the more popularized Zoot Sims, who is included as a bandmate. It's an inconsistent program for sure, but retains beaucoup merit in the aforementioned sections.

~Michael G. Nastos, All Music Guide

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Chet Baker - Trumpet
Herb Geller - Sax (Alto)
Herb Geller - Sax (Tenor)
Shelly Manne - Drums
Red Mitchell - Bass
Bud Shank - Sax (Alto)
Bud Shank - Flute (Tenor)
Felix Slatkin - Strings
Shorty Rogers - Arranger
Richard Bock - Producer
Larry Bunker - Drums
Jacques Gasselin - Strings
Gerard Gustin - Piano
George Kast - Strings
Louis Kievman - Strings
Johnny Mandel - Arranger
Joe Mondragon - Bass
Marty Paich - Arranger
Jack Montrose - Arranger
Jack Montrose - Sax (Tenor)
Richard Palmer - Essay
Paul Robyn - Strings
Paul Shure - Strings
Carson Smith - Bass
Jimmy Bond - Bass
Samuel Cytron - Strings
Eudice Shapiro - Strings
Eddie Barclay - Producer
Dave Bennett - Compilation
Dave Bennett - Remastering
Victor Gottlieb - Strings
Bobby Whitlock - Bass
Roger Beardsley - Digital Editing
Zoot Sims & His Five Brothers - Sax (Tenor)
Russ Freeman Trio - Piano

Release Date: 01/07/2008
Genre: jazz