LYRICAL TRUMPET OF CHET BAKER

By the time these recordings were made in 1958-59, Chet Baker - who began recording in 1952 - had been a star for less than a decade. He first gained fame for his collaborations with Gerry Mulligan, and then with his own quartet featuring Russ Freeman and, for a short while, the ill-fated Dick Twardzik. It was after Twardzik's death from an overdose at the end of 1955 that Baker increased his own drug consumption. The effects of his habit would mark him for life. However, being the true jazz artist that he was, his playing and singing were almost always interesting and moving. The 1958 album CHET: The Lyrical Trumpet of Chet Baker presented Baker (who doesn't sing on any of these tracks) in an unusual setting, accompanied by great jazz musicians with whom he would only rarely play and ecord: Bill Evans (these were his first two sessions with the pianist), Herbie Mann, Pepper Adams, and Kenny Burrell. "Early Morning Mood" wasn't included on the original LP due to time limitations, and appeared on a compilation album.