- Format: LP
- Label: Doxy Records
- Genre: Jazz
180 gram LP
By 1954, a trumpet-slinging white boy who looked like James Dean had climbed to the very pinnacle of the West Coast jazz scene, winning that year's most prestigious poll for "best jazz trumpet player" and national acclaim for his first vocal album, Chet Baker Sings. The album was wildly successful and his label, Pacific Jazz, quickly put jazz music's new darling back into the studio for a follow-up. The resulting album, 1955's Sings And Plays With Bud Shank, Russ Freeman And Strings, was recorded at Capitol Studios in L.A. over the course two sessions. For the first session Baker brought in a large string session, as well as Bud Shank (later of "California Dreamin'" fame) on flute, Red Mitchell on bass, and long-time cohort Russ Freeman on piano, but for the second session Baker brought in only Freeman, Carson Smith (bass) and Bob Neal (drums). Interestingly, it is this second, more intimate session that produced the best results, with songs like "Let's Get Lost", "Just Friends" and "Long Ago And Far Away" becoming signature tunes for Baker for the rest of his career.
Track list -
SIDE A: 1. Let's Get Lost 2. This Is Always 3. Long Ago and Far Away 4. Someone to Watch Over Me 5. Just Friends
SIDE B: 1. I Wish I Knew 2. Daybreak 3. You Don't Know What Love Is 4. Grey December 5. I Remember You
