Phil Urso and Carl Saunders Salute Chet Baker

Phil Urso and Carl Saunders | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 1, 2003)
• Original Release Date: October 1, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Jazzed Media
• ASIN: B00011HEVG
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #271,249 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

"Phil Urso is a magical name from jazz history, one who made his mark on jazz in the 1950s, settled far outside of New York and has continued playing up to the present day away from the spotlight. His tone on tenor was harder than one normally associates with West Coast jazz (closer to Hank Mobley than to Bob Cooper) and his driving playing helped Baker to evolve from cool jazz to hard bop. A skilled songwriter (his "Halema" is particularly memorable) and arranger, he was a stabilizing force in Chet Baker’s career during 1955-57". I can speak for the many bebop and Chet Baker fans when I say "Welcome back Phil Urso!" Scott Yanow, Author of seven jazz books including Trumpet Kings, Bebop, Swing and Afro-Cuban Jazz

Product Description

This newly recorded session (2002) features Denver’s legendary Tenor Saxophonist Phil Urso coupled with LA’s hottest jazz trumpeter Carl Saunders. Backed by an exciting Denver based rhythm section (Paul Romaine, Colin Gieg, and Keith Waters) the group plays tunes associated with the great trumpet player Chet Baker. Phil Urso and Carl Saunders play 11 songs associated with Chet Baker and includes many arrangements actually used by Chet when playing with Phil Urso.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I love this CD!, December 10, 2003

By 

Ned Radinsky "NedRad" (Denver, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Phil Urso and Carl Saunders Salute Chet Baker (Audio CD)

This CD has been a staple in my cars CD player for the last month. That's not a minor achievement, the console in my Jeep is stuffed with Miles, Monk, Mingus and Marsalis but this great set just keeps climbing its way back into my player.

It has a great classic sound. Yesterday I listened to it sandwiched between "Sonny Rollins Plus 4" (1956 Sonny with Richie Powell, George Morrow, Max Roach, and the amazing Clifford Brown) and Miles Davis/Gil Evans "The Birth of Cool" (1949/50 Miles with Gerry Mulligan, John Lewis, Lee Konitz etc.). It fit in perfectly.

The CD is beautifully recorded and features a great set of 11 classic tunes including: Jumpin' off a Clef, Line for Lyons, For Minors only and the beautiful Halema (written by Phil Urso for Bakers wife). Of course no tribute to Chet Baker would be complete without a version of his signature My Funny Valentine, Phil and Carl's version is one of the highlights of this outstanding set. Phil's mellow tenor sax blends beautifully with Carl's bright and melodic trumpet.

I highly recommend that you pick up this outstanding new CD. Whether your a fan of Baker's or not you'll enjoy this set. It's an example of classic 50's Jazz at it's finest. It's a reminder that there is still a lot of great Jazz being played today. Phil Urso is a living link to the golden era of Jazz, I hope he'll have the opportunity to record several more CD's in the coming years!

PS If you live anywhere near Denver CO or are planning a visit, Phil and his outstanding Quintet "The Crew" play a monthly set at Dazzle (Denver's coolest Jazz club).

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW!, February 6, 2005

By 

Biff the Buff (Gulf Breeze, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Phil Urso and Carl Saunders Salute Chet Baker (Audio CD)

This is nirvana for the long suffering Phil Urso fans like me. Every now and then I would check Amazon to see if an Urso recording had surfaced by some miracle or another. Then, voila!. Here it is. Naturally, the music is familiar; but with a new touch here and there and all of it tasteful. Of all the Chet Baker music I have collected over the years, and it's plenty, the Phil Urso sides are the ones I dig the most. I still have the Crown album that featured Halema and Jumpin' Off A Clef that I left on continuous play over much of a weekend back in '62 or so while reading Gone With The Wind. Now, when I think of Rhett Butler, it's not Tara's Theme, but Halema that swirls around in my mind. This album is a delightful surprise. Carl Saunders work is excellent and incredibly listenable. He flat out swings! If you like solid swingin' jazz without squeakin' and honkin' then Phil Urso in general and this album in particular is for you.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Phil Urso and Carl Saunders Fill A Jazz Void, December 10, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Phil Urso and Carl Saunders Salute Chet Baker (Audio CD)

This CD (Phil Urso and Carl Saunders Salute Chet Baker) is the initial offering from the new Jazzed Media label (www.jazzedmedia.com) and holds true to their goal of providing the best in jazz. For those of you who have grown very weary of the current flow of over-produced, uninspired jazz recordings, this recording is for you. Here, tenor sax legend Urso and LA's hottest trumpet player, Saunders, team to present a program of straight-ahead jazz which swings and soars across the limits of musical emotions. This CD makes you remember why you like jazz!