| Chet Baker has been touted as one of the fathers of the West Coast cool-jazz style. Here are just a few Baker recordings that can be considered definitive:
Chet Baker – Picture of Heath (1956): This recording teams Baker, Art Pepper (alto sax) and Phil Urso (tenor sax) with the rhythm section of Carl Perkins (piano), Curtis Counce (bass) and Larance Marable (drums). Though these musicians usually played in the West Coast style, this outing features them in an aggressive hard-bop setting.
Chet Baker – Chet is Back (a.k.a. The Italian Sessions) (1962): After a short stint in an Italian jail, Baker returned with this studio recording backed by an Italian band. The album showcases Baker, mostly known for his cool stylings, in a more bop-oriented setting.
Chet Baker & The Mariachi Brass – She Was Too Good To Me (1974): After five years of musical inactivity, Baker began his comeback with this album that includes "Autumn Leaves," "Tangerine" and "With a Song in My Heart." Jack DeJohnette (drums), Ron Carter (bass) and Paul Desmond (alto sax) are major assets.
Chet Baker – Chet Baker in Tokyo (1987): This concert, which took place shortly before Baker’s death, showcases the sweet, dry tone that Baker was known for and was still capable of pulling off after years of drug abuse. It features Harold Danko (piano), Hein Van Der Geyn (bass) and John Engels (drums).
The Best of Gerry Mulligan Quartet with Chet Baker (1991): For 11 months in the early ’50s, The Haig Club in L.A. featured the Mulligan and Baker partnership, which is immortalized in this selection of re-masterings from the original Pacific Jazz 78 rpm singles. The set is a good representation of the piano-less trio concept Mulligan cultivated. |
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