Chet Baker Big Band

by Chet Baker

Overview

Releasing an entire album under the moniker Chet Baker Big Band is a bit of a misnomer, as only the first four sides actually incorporate an 11-person configuration. The remaining tracks from the long-player feature a slightly smaller nonet configuration. Among the luminaries joining Baker (trumpet) and participating in the big-band arrangements are Art Pepper (alto sax), Bud Shank (alto sax), Phil Urso (tenor sax), and Bobby Timmons (piano). The critical argument proposing that Baker's style is more akin to bop -- and the residual post-bop -- than the West Coast cool that he is often connected with gets tremendous validation throughout not only the four big-band tracks, but also the remainder of the album. The band bops with tremendous verve behind Baker's unmistakable leads. Jimmy Heath's ultrahip arrangements -- especially of "Tenderly" and "A Foggy Day" -- allow the soloists to improvise fluidly from within the context of the larger unit. The Pierre Michelot composition "Mythe" is notable for some outstanding soloing from Baker and Timmons. It is a shame that poor master tape editing -- a motif that haunts many Dick Bock productions -- mars the overall aesthetic. Of the nonet sides, the band really jumps and responds best to the original compositions such as Phil Urso's "Phil's Blues" and "V-Line." The horn blend on these recordings is likewise striking. ~ Lindsay Planer

Product Details

Release Date:	12/09/2016
Label:	Wax Time
UPC:	8436559461733
Rank:	91753

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Chet Baker   Primary Artist,Trumpet
Chet Baker Quintet   Primary Artist
Shelly Manne   Guest Artist,Drums
Russ Freeman   Guest Artist,Piano
Bob Brookmeyer   Guest Artist,Trombone (Valve)
Conte Candoli   Guest Artist,Trumpet
Frank Rosolino   Guest Artist,Trombone
Bobby Timmons   Guest Artist,Piano
Bill Perkins   Guest Artist,Sax (Tenor)
Art Pepper   Guest Artist,Sax (Alto)
Bud Shank   Guest Artist,Sax (Alto),Sax (Baritone)
Bob Graf   Sax (Tenor)
Larance Marable   Drums
Norman Faye   Trumpet
Carson Smith   Bass
Bill Hood   Baritone,Sax (Baritone)
Peter Littman   Drums
Fred Waters   Sax (Alto)
Phil Urso   Sax (Alto),Sax (Tenor),Sax (Baritone)
Jimmy Bond   Bass
Bob Burgess   Trombone
James E. Bond   Bass
Phil Uno   Sax (Tenor)
Norman Raye   Trumpet
James McKean   Drums
James McLean   Drums

Technical Credits

Sid Wayne   Composer
Bob Russell   Composer
Bill Holman   Arranger,Composer
Eddie DeLange   Composer
Christian Chevallier   Arranger,Composer
Jack Lawrence   Composer
Jimmy Heath   Arranger
Frank Signorelli   Composer
George Gershwin   Composer
Ira Gershwin   Composer
Johnny Mandel   Arranger,Composer
Joe Young   Composer
Walter Gross   Composer
Sam M. Lewis   Composer
Dick Bock   Producer
Phil Urso   Arranger,Composer
Ron McMaster   Mastering,Remastering
Pierre Michelot   Arranger,Composer
Richard Bock   Producer
Jimmy Dorsey   Composer
James Van Heusen   Composer
Ned Washington   Composer
Maurice Sigler   Composer
Michael Cuscuna   Liner Notes,Reissue Producer
Harry Akst   Composer
Jack Montrose   Arranger,Composer
Mabel Wayne   Composer
Miff Mole   Composer
Al Hoffman   Composer
Malcolm Addey   Engineer
Victor Young   Composer
Paul Mertz   Composer
Paul Madeira   Composer
Russ Wilson   Liner Notes,Original Liner Notes
Todd Selbert   Liner Notes
John Altoon   Artwork,Cover Design