Chet Baker

THE COMPLETE SESSIONS FOR THE FIRST TIME ON A SINGLE SET!

PLUS 5 BONUS TRACKS

Presented here is the complete original Chet Baker album Embraceable You, consisting of an outstanding trio date featuring the leader playing the trumpet and singing in his most romantic mood backed by just guitar and bass.

While this kind of formation would become a standard setting for Chet in his later years, it is quite unusual for 1957, when the session was recorded. Strangely, before he recorded the 13 trio sides, Chet had started the session taping four larger group sides along with composer and conductor Bob Zieff. These rare tracks, which complete the session, are included here after the trio performances.

Five alternate versions by Chet of songs from Embraceable You have been added as a bonus, including a reading of “Trav’lin’ Light” that pairs Baker with Gerry Mulligan, and his only other recording of “What Is There to Say?”, on which he backs singer Johnny Pace.

PERSONNEL:

ON TRACKS [1-13]:

CHET BAKER, trumpet & vocals
DAVID “BUCK” WHEAT, guitar
ROSS SAVAKUS, bass

ON TRACKS [14-17]:

CHET BAKER, trumpet
JIMMY BUFFINGTON, French horn
BOB TRICARICO, bassoon
GENE ALLEN, bass clarinet
SEYMOUR BARAB, cello
ROSS SAVAKUS, bass
BOB ZIEFF, arranger & conductor

All tracks recorded in New York, December 9, 1957.

BONUS TRACKS:

[18 & 20]: Chet Baker (tp, vcl), Kenny Drew (p), Sam Jones (b), Philly Joe Jones (d).
New York, August, 1958.

[19]: Chet Baker with the Ezio Leoni (as Len Mercer) Orchestra.
Milan, Italy, October 5, 1959.

[21]: Chet Baker (tp), Gerry Mulligan (bar), Henry Grimes (b), Dave Bailey (d).
New York, December 3, 11 & 17, 1957.

[22]: Johnny Pace (vcl), Chet Baker (tp), Herbie Mann (fl, b-cl), Joe Berle (p),
Vinnie Burke (b), Ed Thigpen (d). New York, December 29, 1958.

INCLUDES 16-PAGE BOOKLET

TRACKS:

01 THE NIGHT WE CALLED IT A DAY
02 LITTLE GIRL BLUE [instrumental]
03 EMBRACEABLE YOU
04 THEY ALL LAUGHED
05 THERE’S A LULL IN MY LIFE
06 WHAT IS THERE TO SAY?
07 WHILE MY LADY SLEEPS
08 FORGETFUL
09 HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN GOING ON?
10 COME RAIN OR COME SHINE
11 ON GREEN DOLPHIN STREET
12 LITTLE GIRL BLUE [vocal]
13 TRAV’LIN LIGHT
14 TWENTIES LATE
15 A-MINOR BENIGN
16 PONDER
17 X
18 WHILE MY LADY SLEEPS [alternate version]
19 FORGETFUL [alternate version]
20 HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN GOING ON? [alternate version]
21 TRAV’LIN LIGHT [alternate version; with Gerry Mulligan]
22 WHAT IS THERE TO SAY? [alternate version; vocals by Johnny Pace]

TOTAL TIME: 78:29 Min.