Chet Baker Blue Note

Blue Note Plays the Beatles contains 11 previously released performances by jazz artists dipping into the Lennon/McCartney songbook. When deciding to cover such well-known songs, an artist has two possible ways of going about it: either re-create the track with no challenge to the original or attempt the complete opposite. Falling into the first category are "I've Just Seen a Face" by Holly Cole, "And I Love Her" by Kevin Hays, and "Come Together" by Dianne Reeves and Cassandra Wilson with Bob Belden.

This fine sampler has music from most of the periods of trumpeter Chet Baker's career, programmed in chronological order. Baker is heard with the Gerry Mulligan Quartet ("Freeway"), leading his own quartet with pianist Russ Freeman (including "My Funny Valentine"), and on selections from 1964, 1965, 1977, and 1983 ("Stella By Starlight" with Stan Getz). Although far from complete, this CD does give listeners a good glimpse at Baker's playing and singing (he takes vocals on eight of the 13 numbers) and does not shy away from his underrated late-period work.

The sixth edition of the fantastic anthology series from the Blue Note Records label, featuring some of the greatest players that ever walked the face of the Earth, like Thad Jones and Mel Lewis, Chet Baker, Dinah Washington, Peggy Lee, Miles Davis, Grant Green, Billie Holiday, Cassandra Wilson, Horace Silver, Ike Quebec, Blue Mitchell and many more.

The sixth edition of the fantastic anthology series from the Blue Note Records label, featuring some of the greatest players that ever walked the face of the Earth, like Thad Jones and Mel Lewis, Chet Baker, Dinah Washington, Peggy Lee, Miles Davis, Grant Green, Billie Holiday, Cassandra Wilson, Horace Silver, Ike Quebec, Blue Mitchell and many more.

The seven sides that make up the all-star outing Picture of Heath (1961) might be familiar to fans of co-leads Chet Baker (trumpet) or Art Pepper (alto saxophone), as Playboys (1956). Perhaps owing to trademark-related issues with the men's magazine of the same name, Picture of Heath became the moniker placed on the 1961 Pacific Jazz vinyl re-release, as well as the 1989 compact disc. Regardless of the designation on the label, the contents gather selections recorded on October 31, 1956 – the third encounter between Baker and Pepper. ~ AllMusic

The first of 100 tunes in this collection is a 1937 recording of tenor saxophonist Coleman Hawkins and guitarist Django Reinhardt playing Out Of Nowhere. It was recorded two years before Blue Note Records was founded. The taping was done for EMI’s Capitol label’s French division. This is an ominous hint as to the content of the 10-disc “100 Best of Blue Note” box set, which at first glance appears to have all the trimmings of a slick 21st century collection.