STAN GETZ & CHET BAKER - Stan Meets Chet
Essential Jazz Classics EJC55639
Tracks 1 to 4
Stan Getz ( tnr ) Chet Baker ( tpt ) Jodie Christian ( pno ) Victor Sproles ( bass ) Marshall Thompson (drs)
Recorded Chicago, 16th February 1958
Tracks 5 & 6
Stan Getz ( tnr ) Chet Baker ( tpt ) Russ Freeman ( pno ) Carson Smith ( bass ) Shelly Manne ( drs )
Recorded at the T iffany Club, Los Angeles, 17th August 1954
This is a straight reissue of the Verve album of the same title plus two longish tracks recorded live at the Tiffany Club in Los Angeles recorded four years earlier. On paper you would think this was a marriage made in heaven but the reality is far from that, it is reported that Stan Getz and Chet Baker were not exactly bosom buddies and that reflects on the music on this album.
Getz plays well enough on the long opener “I’ll remember April” but is performance is marred by a squeaky reed, Baker’s solo never seems to get off the ground and is not up to his usual standard. The rhythm section is adequate but the studio piano is not of the best quality. Only Getz rises to the occasion on the long ballad medley with his version of Bob Haggart’s “What’s new?” with a fine lyrical reading of the tune.
Duke Jordan’s “Jordu” is a much better track and Getz solo is inventive and swinging and the rhythm section plays above average and with more conviction. Jodie Christian’s piano solo is the best of the session. Chet Baker does not appear on this track. The Stan Getz composition “Half-breed apache” his take on “Cherokee” is fast and furious with Baker displaying a little more fire than previous tracks.
Although this session does not display the best ofr Getz and Baker’s recording output from a historical point of view it is probably the best example of the two frontliners to be in your collection.
The two bonus live tracks are a different proposition with a much classier rhythm section and pretty good sound quality for a live recording of this period. Chet Baker’s solo on ”All the things you are” is a big improvement on anything he plays on the previous session probably because the rhythm section gives him much more support.
If you already have the original session you may wish to purchase this for the bonus tracks which are much better than anything on the original release. The fact that Getz and Baker stay out of each other’s way with Getz stating the theme on both tracks.
Reviewed by Roy Booth
Essential Jazz Classics EJC55639
Tracks 1 to 4
Stan Getz ( tnr ) Chet Baker ( tpt ) Jodie Christian ( pno ) Victor Sproles ( bass ) Marshall Thompson (drs)
Recorded Chicago, 16th February 1958
Tracks 5 & 6
Stan Getz ( tnr ) Chet Baker ( tpt ) Russ Freeman ( pno ) Carson Smith ( bass ) Shelly Manne ( drs )
Recorded at the T iffany Club, Los Angeles, 17th August 1954
This is a straight reissue of the Verve album of the same title plus two longish tracks recorded live at the Tiffany Club in Los Angeles recorded four years earlier. On paper you would think this was a marriage made in heaven but the reality is far from that, it is reported that Stan Getz and Chet Baker were not exactly bosom buddies and that reflects on the music on this album.
Getz plays well enough on the long opener “I’ll remember April” but is performance is marred by a squeaky reed, Baker’s solo never seems to get off the ground and is not up to his usual standard. The rhythm section is adequate but the studio piano is not of the best quality. Only Getz rises to the occasion on the long ballad medley with his version of Bob Haggart’s “What’s new?” with a fine lyrical reading of the tune.
Duke Jordan’s “Jordu” is a much better track and Getz solo is inventive and swinging and the rhythm section plays above average and with more conviction. Jodie Christian’s piano solo is the best of the session. Chet Baker does not appear on this track. The Stan Getz composition “Half-breed apache” his take on “Cherokee” is fast and furious with Baker displaying a little more fire than previous tracks.
Although this session does not display the best ofr Getz and Baker’s recording output from a historical point of view it is probably the best example of the two frontliners to be in your collection.
The two bonus live tracks are a different proposition with a much classier rhythm section and pretty good sound quality for a live recording of this period. Chet Baker’s solo on ”All the things you are” is a big improvement on anything he plays on the previous session probably because the rhythm section gives him much more support.
If you already have the original session you may wish to purchase this for the bonus tracks which are much better than anything on the original release. The fact that Getz and Baker stay out of each other’s way with Getz stating the theme on both tracks.
Reviewed by Roy Booth