Chet Baker

THE WILLIAM CLAXTON COLLECTION
180 Pure Virging Vinyl LPs in Gatefold Packaging.

The photographs of William Claxton define the essence of cool – his stunningly intimate images of icons like Chet Baker combine technical innovation and an unerring sense of the moment to forge a singular aesthetic he defined as ‘jazz for the eyes’ - Jason Ankeny (AllMusic) –
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The cover of this LP is a publicity photo session for Pacific Jazz owner Richard Bock in Los Angeles 1954. Freeman supplied Baker with a swinging, rhythmically kinetic if still laid-back harmonic bed over which to further his signature approach to jazz improvisation. On the inside we see another shot of them two at Radio Recorders Studio B in Hollywood 1954.

PERSONNEL:

CHET BAKER, trumpet & vocals
With:

[A1], [A7] & [B6]: Russ Freeman (p), Carson Smith (b), Bob Neel (d).
Los Angeles, February 15, 1954.
[A2]: Russ Freeman (p), Carson Smith (b), Bob Neel (d).
Los Angeles, March 7, 1955.
[A3]: Russ Freeman (p), Carson Smith (b), Larry Bunker (d).
Los Angeles, October 3, 1953.
[A4]: Russ Freeman (p), Jimmy Bond (b), Lawrence Marable (d).
Los Angeles, July 30, 1956.
[A5] & [B1]: Russ Freeman (p), Jimmy Bond (b), Peter Littman (d).
Forum Theatre, Los Angeles, July 23, 1956.
[A6]: Russ Freeman (p), Red Mitchell (b), Bobby White (d).
Los Angeles, December 15, 1952.
[B2] & [B4]: Bud Shank (fl), Russ Freeman (p), Red Mitchell (b),
Bob Neel (d), plus string section includingCorky Hale (harp), Ed Lustgarten, Ray Kramer, Eleanor Slatkin, Kurt Reher (cello).
Arrangers: Johnny Mandel (B2) & Marty Paich (B4).
Los Angeles, February 28, 1955.
[B3]: Herb Geller (as & ts), Jack Montrose (ts, arr), Russ Freeman (p),
Joe Mondragon (b), Shelly Manne (d).
Los Angeles, December 22, 1953.
[B5]: Bob Brookmeyer (v-tb), Bud Shank (bar), Russ Freeman (p),
Carson Smith (b), Shelly Manne (d).
Arranger: Bill Holman. Los Angeles, September 15, 1954.
[B7]: Pete Jolly (p), Leroy Vinnegar (b), Stan Levey (d).
Los Angeles, July 26, 1956.

SIDE A:

1 LOVE NEST
2 FAN TAN
3 SUMMER SKETCH
4 AN AFTERNOON AT HOME

SIDE B:

1 SAY WHEN
2 LUSH LIFE
3 AMBLIN'
4 HUGO HURWEY
5 MAID IN MEXICO