Recordings of Chet Baker from the 50s are always amazing – consistently superb backing musicians round out Mr. Baker’s clear and confident trumpet sound, original compositions, jazz classics, and popular tunes are coherently selected, the joy of playing and the exceptionally high level can be heard from every groove. Personally, I like the Chet Baker interpretation of cool jazz in particular because of the palpable balance of Californian nonchalance and a melancholic gravitas, a combination of smoky dark jazz clubs with existentialist conversations on the one hand and ever-good-humoured glamorous-looking young light-hearted hipsters under the ever-shining sun on the other.

After an eight-month European tour, there was no getting around Mr. Baker in 1956, ‘Number One Trumpeter’ in Downbeat and Metronome, sold-out tours and, above all, the genuine respect of the professional jazz community. This recording with his newly formed quintet is a great pleasure – new addition Bobby Timmons on piano plays soulful and dynamic, Phil Urso is a very harmonious support and addition on tenor saxophone, the rhythm section plays like a clockwork, Chet Baker is at the top of his game, ‘that indefinable elusive quality that separates the man from the boy.‘ In any case!

Stefan Mohr