Customer Reviews

Young Chet

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

This cd is the first Chet cd I bought. Beautiful trumpet interpretations of My Funny Valentine, Look For The Silver Lining, But Not For Me,...(from 1954 session) made me a big fan of Chet.
Second session is recorded in July 1956 (A Night On A Bop Mountain, Taboo, Down and I Can't Get Started).
Added are two songs (It's Only a Paper Moon and Autumn in New York) that don't feature Chet, just his group with Phil Urso on tenor sax, leading.

Firstly, you should buy this CD because of the artist; one can immediately tell Chet Baker is a master of the trumpet because he can create sounds you'd never think a trumpeter could make. His overall style is like the smoother Miles Davis albums--not at all the harsh, "pointier" sound of Armstrong, the later Davis recordings, or other famous trumpeters. The overall improv on this album is simple, blending easily into the melodies of the songs. This CD is really a joy to listen to, but it's as "intense" as other jazz albums (so you could also easily read or study to it).

Secondly, the songs. Everyone, whether they are "into" music or not, has heard of at least one of these songs. The highlights of the CD are Look For the Silver Lining, My Funny Valentine, It's Only a Paper Moon, and Autumn in New York--NY, however, is performed as a piano trio. The songs are arranged perfectly and in a perfect order--not too many fast or slow songs in a row.

Overall, this CD is a classic...a classic artist playing classic songs in a classic way. This is a must-have CD for any music lover, and would even be a good jazz album for people who don't usually enjoy jazz. Buy this!

This record is a gem, every number has been cared for. Although some of the numbers are remixes and therefore has been produced by artificial means, it makes them no less special, its a collection of true gems. I have listened to this record countless times and keep loving it. Its like the anticipation of a good meal, when the disc is put on and "Look for the silver lining" starts playing. This is Chet and his orchestra at their peak. Lots of warm recommendations.

It is the fourth time I order this album, without regretting a penny or whatever it costs! The first time I bought it, I listened with somebody who persuaded me to give her the album. OK, it was a fair move in a game of high interests, as the album is a great collection of Chet during his youth, while the creation and stablishment of the "cool jazz" genre was setting in, but the rest of the story is worth enough: The second and the third time I bought the album, it was STOLEN from me, probably by "close friends" during any party or event I used to hold at home. This time I will certainly be more than careful!
Please take a deep breath while listening to the instrumental and pretty much raw version of "My Funny Valentine", the track which became Chet's signature in his career.
And even if you also do have jazz fassioned friends surrouning you, even if you both get stolen, forgive your friends from the bottom of your hearts, and simply buy it again!