Chet Baker is on of my all time favorite jazz trumpeters and singers. The tone in both his trumpet and his voice is just amazing – subtle, warm, smooth. This recorded was recorded in LA (the Forum Teater & Capitol Studios) by Allan Emig and Phil Turetsky. Sleeve notes by Gerald Heard, pictured on the rear.
Originally issued in 1954 as a 10″ LP, this version adds 6 new tracks: “a brace of new vocal and trumpet performances arranged by . . . Russ Freeman.” All include Baker and Freeman; others players include James Bond and Carson Smith on bass, with Peter Littman, Lawrance Marable, and Bob Neel on drums on different tracks.
My copy is from the Blue Note Records’ Tone Poet series, a 2023 pressing with lacquers cut by Kevin Gray and pressing at RTI. It sounds absolutely fantastic.
![Album cover: Photo of Chet Baker at a microphone, singing](https://goatless.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240719_092405-1175x1200.webp)
![Back side of album cover: liner notes, photo of Chet Baker playing trumpet](https://goatless.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240719_092414-jpg.webp)
![B&W photo of Chet Baker singing in studio](https://goatless.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240719_092432-1200x1183.webp)
![B&W studio photo of musicians including Chet Baker on trumpet](https://goatless.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240719_092424-1200x1184.webp)
![Record label / track list](https://goatless.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240719_092518-jpg.webp)
![Record label / track list](https://goatless.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240719_092458-jpg.webp)
![Hype sticker from Blue Note Tone Poet series](https://goatless.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240719_092519-jpg.webp)