LPCDreissues: Looking forward to the past

The undeniably erratic early career of Chet Baker involved roller-coaster extremes and musical paradoxes. In the Fifties, his sound and approach were often compared to Miles Davis, although his greatest successes came in a West Coast setting, began in Gerry Mulligan's cool, piano-less quartet, and often emphasized ballads and soft-toned vocals. But this album shows Baker in a unique direct assault in Davis territory: recorded in New York; including a couple of tunes associated with Miles; and above all with a driving East Coast supporting cast made up of tough-tenor Johnny Griffin, bebop veteran Al Haig, and frequent Davis colleagues Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones. Fair Weather, Polka Dots and Moonbeams, Hotel 49, Solar, Blue Thoughts, When Lights Are Low, plus CD bonus track Soft Windswith Johnny Griffin, Al Haig, Paul Chambers, Philly Joe Jones