Chet Baker is one of the most endearing jazz artists to come out of the cool movement. His trumpet style is synonymous with the style, and his wide-eyed vocals are also popular. Two recent Pacific Jazz reissues are discussed below: Chet Baker and Crew, a 1956 date that captures Baker with an excellent quintet, and Deep In a Dream: The Ultimate Chet Baker Collection, compiled by James Gavin to accompany his biography on Baker.

Chet Baker/Chet Baker and Crew

Chet Baker and Crew has the distinction of being the first recording Baker made upon returning to the States after a disastrous year, more or less, abroad. Baker had spent a great deal of time overseas in 1955, touring with a group that included bassist Jimmy Bond, drummer Peter Littman, and pianist Richard Twardzick. Twardzick never returned from that tour, a victim of a drug overdose. Bond left the group shortly thereafter, and Baker later fired Littman following a date at a U.S. military base. Baker stayed on in Europe for several months, turning up anywhere and everywhere. Both Bond and Littman rejoined Baker upon his return to Los Angeles; the group was rounded out by pianist Bobby Timmons and tenor saxophonist Phil Urso, a cool school player whose most recent previous gig had been with Woody Herman’s Thundering Herd.

Baker’s playing is subtly changed on this recording from what it had been when Baker was playing with Gerry Mulligan. The evidence of that change can readily be heard on the version here of Mulligan’s “Revelation.” One can hear clearly how this is different from what the Baker/Mulligan quartet would have played. It is more outgoing, thanks largely in part to Urso’s enthusiastic, open sound and attitude. When Baker steps into his solo, you can almost hear the experience of all those nights on the road in Europe, haunted by the ghost of Richard Twardzick and his own demons.

Baker’s playing is really good here, but ultimately the biggest reason to have this recording is Phil Urso’s performance. His playing is always tasteful yet full of unbridled enthusiasm that wins the listener over right away. He also provides two excellent compositions, the gorgeous “Halema” and the soul jazz workout “Lucius Lu.” Chet Baker and Crew provides a rare chance to hear this underappreciated saxophonist.

Deep In a Dream: The Ultimate Chet Baker Collection

The nineteen tracks here were chosen by Baker biographer James Gavin to coincide with the release of his book Deep In a Dream. Fans may quibble over whether this is the ultimate collection or not, but the simple fact is that it is a good one. From the years with Mulligan to recordings with Russ Freeman, the Baker and Crew group, it’s all here. In addition, there are a couple of a capella vocal performances from 1953 (“Blue Room” and “Spring Is here”) as well as a rarity, “Petite Fleur” from a mid-sixties Bud Shank album.

Classic Baker tracks that listeners will find here include “My Funny Valentine,” both instrumental and vocal, “The Thrill Is Gone,” “Let’s Get Lost,” “You Don’t Know What Love Is,” “Halema,” “A Night on Bop Mountain,” “Little Girl Blue,” and "Deep In a Dream."

Listeners will walk away from this collection with a better feel for the varied periods of Baker’s music and the different musical settings in which he found himself. I think that Gavin’s real purpose here was to provide listeners with a sampling of key performances in Baker’s career that echoed throughout his life. Deep In a Dream does that well, and listeners will get what they expect from this collection.