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) –
_________________________________________________________

Chet Baker returned to the United States from a long European tour in early 1956. Although the tour was successful in making him a better-known figure in the Old Continent, it also included a tragic experience that would mark the rest of Chet’s life. The quartet’s pianist, Dick Twardzik, would die from a heroin overdose at the age of 24 shortly after beginning the tour. This would affect Chet’s personality and speed up his own addiction. Right after returning to America, Chet recorded this album at the Forum Theatre. With him were the same bassist and drummer from his European adventure, plus tenor saxophonist Phil Urso and pianist Bobby Timmons, who would become a member of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers a couple of years later.

PERSONNEL:

CHET BAKER, trumpet, vocals on B5 only
PHIL URSO, tenor sax
BOBBY TIMMONS, piano
JIMMY BOND, bass
PETTER LITTMAN, drums
BILL LOUGHBOROUGH, chromatic tympani on A1 only

Forum Theatre, Los Angeles, July 24, 25 & 31, 1956.

SIDE A:

1 TO MICKEY’S MEMORY
2 SLIGHTLY ABOVE MODERATE
3 HALEMA
4 REVELATION

SIDE B:

1 SOMETHING FOR LIZA
2 LUCIUS LU
3 WORRYING THE LIFE OUT OF ME
4 MEDIUM ROCK
5 LINE FOR LYONS (*)

(*) BONUS TRACK: Not on the original LP configuration