Chet Baker

Chet Baker - Italian Movies (1958-1964) {3CD Set Moochin' About MOOCHIN03 rel 2013}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 660 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 305 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 29 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1958-64, 2013 Moochin' About | MOOCHIN03
Jazz / Cool / Stage & Screen / Continental Jazz / Original Score / Trumpet

Before delving into the music on this collection, it's important to offer a note of caution to Chet Baker fans: Italian Movies is not a really a compilation of the trumpeter's work, so much as a series of film scores by the great composer Piero Umiliani between 1958 and 1964 on which he is featured either as a soloist or as part of the orchestra. It might better have been marketed to Umiliani fans, but it's tough to fault label Moochin' About for a little creative license when repackaging a previous issue of this music that appeared on Liuto Records – that one was co-billed to the pair. Other than on disc three – where Baker doesn't get to solo until track nine in the score for 1962's Smog, yet is still featured for 20 minutes – there is plenty of him to go around as he works amid his Italian contemporaries.

Chet Baker - The Complete Barclay Recordings Of Chet Baker, Chet In Paris, Vol. 1-4 (1955-56) {4CD Set, EmArcy Remaster 1988}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 1.02 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 560 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 143 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1955-56, 1988 EmArcy / PolyGram / Barclay | 837 474/5/6/7
Jazz / Cool / West Coast Jazz / Mainstream Jazz / Trumpet

Emarcy released these 4 CD's of the complete 1955 - 1956 Paris Barclay recordings on CD in 1988. Volume 1 contains lot's of unusual Bob Zieff tunes introduced to Chet by pianist Dick Twardzik. The band is top-rate, the material is interesting, but with the exception of Sad Walk, not very memorable. Things start to pick up on the last tracks, when Chet is joined by a swinging septet (credited as "Chet Baker and his Orchestra"!?). The last tune, In Memory of Dick, is a tribute to Twardzik who died at age 24 during these sessions. Volume 2 contains no Bob Zieff tunes here, just standards. Unlike the cool bop Chet was playing with Russ Freeman around this time, these are mostly ballads. He's backed by a fine band and they swing pretty. Volume 3 is more of the same, but a little more upbeat. Volume 4 contains alternate, unreleased takes from the famous 1955/56 recordings.