The Original Quartet With Chet Baker [2-CD SET]

Amazon.com essential recording
Gerry Mulligan's off-the-bandstand relationship with Chet Baker could never be considered amiable, but once the two West Coast bad boys picked up the horns, everything was sweetness and light, though often underscored by a subtle and sweet tension. That's never been more apparent than on The Original Quartet with Chet Baker, a limited- edition, two-CD set (42 tracks!) that compiles the group's entire Pacific Jazz output (with the exception of their collaborations with Lee Konitz, available on Konitz Meets Mulligan. As the band that defined the swinging and sophisto West Coast sound, these Mulligan/Baker sides are laid-back but also sly and cerebral. While the rhythm section (bassists include Red Mitchell, Joe Mondragon, Bob Whitlock, and Carson Smith; drums were brushed by Chico Hamilton and Larry Bunker) lays back and affords the horns plenty of room, Baker and Mulligan circle each other like boxers one moment, lovers the next. It's a dance you don't want to miss. --S. Duda

Product Description
The pianoless Gerry Mulligan Quartet, which launched the careers of Mulligan, Chet Baker and Chico Hamilton, lasted only one year (June of '52-'53). These two remastered CDs cover all 42 tracks that the quartet recorded for Pacific Jazz in that one year in which the band invented itself, evolved, hit the big time and then disappeared. Recorded live at the Haig and in various studios, this music is essential modern jazz.

The Original Quartet With Chet Baker [2-CD SET],Gerry Mulligan & Chet Baker,Blue Note Records,Cool,Jazz,Jazz Music,Pop,West Coast Jazz

Average customer rating: A Cornerstone of Modern Jazz Stunningly good Absolute beauty Baritone Sax and Baker Horn Great Jazz

The Original Quartet With Chet Baker [2-CD SET] Gerry Mulligan Manufacturer: Blue Note Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Cool Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Blue Note Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music Cool Jazz | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Gerry Mulligan Meets Ben Webster Chet Baker Quartet Featuring Russ Freeman Quartet Chet Embraceable You ASIN: B000007TFR Release Date: 1998-07-14

Tracks:

1. Get Happy
2. 'S Wonderful
3. Godchild
4. Dinah
5. She Didn't Say Yes, She Didn't Say No
6. Bernie's Tune
7. Lullaby Of The Leaves
8. Utter Chaos #1
9. Aren't You Glad You're You
10. Frenesi
11. Nights At The Turnstable
12. Freeway
13. Soft Shoe
14. Walkin' Shoes
15. Aren't You Glad You're You
16. Get Happy
17. Poinciana
18. Godchild
19. Makin' Whoopee
20. Cherry
21. Motel
22. Carson City Stage

Tracks:

1. My Old Flame
2. Love Me Or Leave Me (Alternate Take)
3. Love Me Or Leave Me
4. Swinghouse (10in LP Take)
5. Swinghouse (12in LP Take)
6. Jeru
7. Utter Chaos #2
8. Darn That Dream
9. Darn That Dream (Alternate Take)
10. I May Be Wrong (12in LP Take)
11. I May Be Wrong (10in LP Take)
12. I'm Beginning To See The Light (10in LP Take)
13. I'm Beginning To See The Light (12in LP Take)
14. The Nearness Of You
15. Tea For Two
16. Five Brothers
17. I Can't Get Started
18. Ide's Side
19. Funhouse
20. My Funny Valentine

Amazon.com essential recording

Gerry Mulligan's off-the-bandstand relationship with Chet Baker could never be considered amiable, but once the two West Coast bad boys picked up the horns, everything was sweetness and light, though often underscored by a subtle and sweet tension. That's never been more apparent than on The Original Quartet with Chet Baker, a limited- edition, two-CD set (42 tracks!) that compiles the group's entire Pacific Jazz output (with the exception of their collaborations with Lee Konitz, available on Konitz Meets Mulligan. As the band that defined the swinging and sophisto West Coast sound, these Mulligan/Baker sides are laid-back but also sly and cerebral. While the rhythm section (bassists include Red Mitchell, Joe Mondragon, Bob Whitlock, and Carson Smith; drums were brushed by Chico Hamilton and Larry Bunker) lays back and affords the horns plenty of room, Baker and Mulligan circle each other like boxers one moment, lovers the next. It's a dance you don't want to miss. --S. Duda

Album Description

The pianoless Gerry Mulligan Quartet, which launched the careers of Mulligan, Chet Baker and Chico Hamilton, lasted only one year (June of '52-'53). These two remastered CDs cover all 42 tracks that the quartet recorded for Pacific Jazz in that one year in which the band invented itself, evolved, hit the big time and then disappeared. Recorded live at the Haig and in various studios, this music is essential modern jazz.

Customer Reviews:

A Cornerstone of Modern Jazz.......2006-05-31

The quartet that baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan formed with trumpeter Chet Baker in Los Angeles in 1952 enjoyed considerable popular success during its single year of existence; but as this complete collection of the band's Pacific Jazz sides proves, flash in this case had a solid grounding in substance. The simple - if decidedly unorthodox - decision not to employ a piano, thereby eliminating his harmonic center, pushed Mulligan to the very forefront of jazz's postwar development, and resulted in some of the most sparkling and tuneful performances in the history of the genre.
Starting with the leader's very first (pre-Baker) California recordings, GERRY MULLIGAN QUARTET traces the rapid evolution of this gifted group's sound, sensibility and personnel (An early version of the unit included a pianist but no drummer!), allowing listeners to share in the excitement these young men must have felt as they recorded three-minute masterpieces like "Lullaby of the Leaves" and "Soft Shoe" - pivotal works which sound as fresh, and dare I say it as important, today as they ever could have in their own era. Oft-covered warhorses "Makin' Whoopee," "My Old Flame" and "Darn that Dream" get spectacular makeovers here - the last in two different versions from which I defy anyone to pick a favorite. The live sets which made Mulligan's and Baker's reputations are well represented too, with bouncers like "Poinciana" balanced by such moody classics as "My Funny Valentine" and Mulligan's own "Funhouse." It's all here.
...Well, almost all. Those duly enchanted by this generous collection should seek out OJC's GERRY MULLIGAN QUARTET/CHUBBY JACKSON BIG BAND disc, REUNION and KONITZ MEETS MULLIGAN for more of these major musicians' efforts; all are well worth it.

Stunningly good.......2005-08-24

I wasn't very familiar with either Gerry Mulligan or Chet Baker when I bought this CD. Jazz is a relatively new interest for me, and I'm still feeling my way around. The overwhelmingly positive reviews sold me, though, and I decided to pick this one up. I'm *so* glad I did.

It's always a pleasure to hear such talented instrumentalists working together, but this CD takes it to another level entirely. You can almost feel the energy crackling between Mulligan and Baker when they play off each other's riffs. It's just amazing stuff. Whenever I play these CDs, I end up playing them a second time, and a third, and a fourth.

Get this set. You will not be disappointed.

Absolute beauty.......2005-03-07

I don't know if I should even attempt to compose a review for this release. I'm not certain I could even approach anything resembling "justice" for it. I'm sure I'll fall far short. But, that aside, here goes.

This cd, as my title indicates, is absolutely beautiful. To start, I would recommend getting this cd along with "Chet with Russ Freeman" and the Chet Baker/Art Pepper release that was once known as "Playboys" when on Capitol Records that is now called "Picture of Heath" in it's reissued form. These three releases combined make for a great combination/trilogy.

That said, this cd is fantastic. It captures Chet, and Mulligan, in their infancy, right on the cusp of what was to come. You can still hear the naivete in Chet's playing and while it's not as great as his "Chet" cd (which is absolutely, hands-down, my all-time favorite), it is just as magical. Just in a different way. This is the absolute epitome of the "West Coast Vibe." And, now, for me living here in Miami Beach and having left my home of San Francisco (where I lived for over 25 years), it brings back many, many memories of being very young, slaving away at menial jobs to go spend all my money at record stores to pick up jazz lp's (yes, lp's). All my minimum wage earnings went to Chet, Pepper, Getz, Garland, Mitchell, Adderly, Miles, MJQ, Monk, Webster, Hawkins, Milt, etc, etc, etc. Then, I'd take them home, cherish them, make mix tapes, and then hit the PCH or the city streets in my Ford Falcon with this as my company.

That's the truth. A bit of a diversion from a "review" of this cd, but it kind of, kind of, catches a vibe about this cd that, if you can at all dig what I'm saying (and hopefully, if you're checking out this release anyway - you're a soul I can relate to and CAN catch my drift), then you can get this vibe. But, if you know anything about this scene, then you know what I mean anyway. This is fluid, soul-touching stuff. If it needs any explanation, chances are there isn't anyone who can really explain it to you, nor anyone who would want to, and this is probably something you'd never get. But, it probably won't need explaining. You get this, you put it in, you close your eyes, you'll know. Top down, sunny day or rain on window pane with your heart full of sadness. Oddly, it fits both 'cause I've tried it. But just do yourself a favor and pick this baby up, along with the others I mentioned. You will be glad you did.

Baritone Sax and Baker Horn.......2001-02-06

It does not take many words to tell you that these 2 CD's have the great and unique deep baritone sax along with that smooth horn of Chet Baker to make a winning combo. Buy it. You'll like it. You'll love it. There's some pretty nifty drum work on some tracks as well.

Great Jazz.......2000-03-01

This set is the best I have ever heard from Gerry Mulligan or Chet Baker. They started as musicians just trying to make names for themselves, and they definitely succeeded. If you are looking for a lot of well-known tunes, I have to warn you, these CD's don't have a whole lot. It makes up with style and great harmonies and melodies. Whether it's Mulligan blowing out his great sound into genius solos or Baker playing a melody with Mulligan on a harmony or countermelody, these CD's don't have any bad songs. The rhythym sections change throughout the album, as do the years they're from, but the purity of the cool jazz stays the same. I would highly recommend this to any fans of Mulligan, Baker, cool jazz, or to any jazz listeners who want to hear a wonderful collaboration between two great musicians.

Average customer rating:

The Original Gerry Mulligan Tentet & Quartet Gerry Mulligan With Chet Baker Manufacturer: Gnp Crescendo ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Cool Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Similar Items: The Original Quartet With Chet Baker [2-CD SET] Gary Burton & Keith Jarrett Complete Studio Recordings Complete Studio Recordings Chet Baker Quartet Featuring Russ Freeman ASIN: B000001OTM Release Date: 1996-11-26

Tracks:

1. Westwood Walk
2. Simbah
3. Walkin' Shoes
4. Rocker
5. A Ballad
6. Taking A Chance On Love
7. Flash
8. Ontet
9. Varsity Drag
10. Speak Low
11. Half Nelson
12. Lady Bird
13. Love Me Or Leave Me
14. Swing House

Pop Music:

1. The Very Best of Jean-Luc Ponty
2. Throwback
3. Time Out [Enhanced] [SACD]
4. Walk, Don't Run! [Original recording remastered]
5. Way Out West
6. What Is Hip?: The Tower of Power Anthology
7. Wishes (Holiday Album)
8. You Must Believe in Spring [Extra tracks] [Original recording remastered]
9. 33 1/3
10. A Love Supreme [Original recording remastered]

Pop Music