Gerry Mulligan, who was primarily known as a baritone saxophonist, but was an expert exponent of other saxophones, clarinet and piano as well as being a highly-respected arranger, was one of the giants of post-war modern jazz and was one of the leading lights in the "cool jazz" movement focused on the USA's West Coast. In 1952 he began a legendary collaboration with the young lyrical trumpeter Chet Baker, newly-arrived on the jazz scene after an Army career, with the primary era of their professional relationship ending in 1953 when Mulligan was jailed on narcotics charges. This great-value 46-track 2-CD set comprises most of the recordings they made together during this time as part of Gerry Mulligan's quartet (Baker also featured in Mulligan's Tentette line-up and a quintet that included Lee Konitz), initially comprising informal 'live' recordings at The Haig jazz club in Los Angeles and at the house of recording engineer Phil Turetsky, and later at the Black Hawk club in San Francisco as well as more formal studio environments. After the first session, which involved pianist Jimmy Rowles and bassist Joe Mondragon, Mulligan developed an innovative piano-less line-up, using bass and drums to make up the quartets, with the pairings being Bobby Whitlock (bass) and and Chico Hamilton (drums), and Carson Smith (bass) and Larry Bunker (drums). It offers fascinating insights into the the way Mulligan and Baker developed an intuitive rapport, and an absorbing collection of landmark modern jazz performances.

When originally released in 1956, Chet Baker Sings caused some considerable confusion among critics. Was Chet a trumpet player who sang or a singer who played the trumpet? the truth was probably a mixture of both, since he performed both with equal abilities. His reputation had been established as a trumpet player, but from his first vocal session in 1954, he had become noted as a unique vocal talent, one whose low key style provide especially popular with the record buying public.

TOO GOOD ME 40TH EDITION

(2-CD set) This set delivers the best tracks recorded by Chet Baker between 1953 and 1956 in Los Angeles, Paris and Ann Arbor. As usual this "Quintessence" volume features a booklet with both French and English notes written by Alain Gerber, writer, journalist and producer in France.Gerry Mulligan Quartet : Moonlight In Vermont, Chet Baker Quartet : Maid In Mexico - Imagination - Band Aid - Happy Little Sunbeam, Chet Baker Ensemble : Ergo - Moonlight Becomes You, Chet Baker With Strings : A Little Duet, Chet Baker Quartet : But Not For Me (Vocal) - But Not For Me (Instrumental) - There Will Never Be Another You - Look For The Silver Lining - My Funny Valentine - I Fall In Love Too Easily - Line For Lyons - Lover Man - My Funny Valentine - Zing, Went The Strings Of My Hart. Chet Baker Sextet : Little Man, You've Had A Busy Day, Chet Baker Quartet : Long Ago And Far Away - Sad Walk - Tenderly, Chet Baker & His Orchestra : Chet, Chet Baker Quartet : Everything Happens To Me, Chet Baker Quintet : Tasty Pudding, Chet Baker Quartet : That Old Feeling - I've Never Been In Love Before, Chet Baker & Art Pepper Sextet : Sonny Boy, Chet Baker Quartet : My Ideal, Chet Baker Quintet : To Mickey's Memory, Chet Baker Big Band : A Foggy Day - Darn That Dream - Tenderly, Russ Freeman & Chet Baker : Love Nest - Hugo Hurwhey.

“...outstanding among [Chet’s] later recordings....This is a record to give a listener fresh heart...one feels there cannot be much wrong with jazz while it is producing records like this.” (Max Harrison, International Jazz Journal) 180g Audiophile Vinyl

When this recording came out as LP on the market in 1979 after Baker’s lengthy pause from the scene, Jazz Time’s reviewer started his article by saying “Whoof! The killer is back....” And indeed this cool killer was back on the scene to stay, though for a while until his tragic death in Holland, and made a number of wonderful recordings for SteepleChase. The first of the four releases with the same “drumless” group is a studio recording (three others are live from Montmartre) and “this subtle woodhued record shows that Baker at his best can still knock you dead...” (Jazz Time). 180g Audiophile Vinyl

When Sunny Gets Blue

This is the second release from the night at Montmartre Jazzhus (earlier release is “Daybreak” SCCD 31142) by the best Chet Baker Trio of this period. “...he sounds masterful, and is ably accompanied by Raney’s soft-bop guitar and NHØP’s towering bass...” (The Penguin Guide to Jazz - new edition)

The success of the earlier release by this trio (SCCD 31122 “The Touch Of Your Lips”) brought the group together again this time for “live” recording at club Montmartre packed with Baker fans. Radio Free Jazz wrote, “ His present playing is extraordinary, the best of his career, and he has never found a more empathetic context than this trio with guitarist Raney and bassist Pedersen... The interplay among these three superb musicians yields a quality of collective improvisation comparable to that of Bill Evans’ greatest trio....”