These 1956 Pacific Jazz sides appeared in 1961 under the title Playboys. Myth and rumor persist that, under legal advice from the publisher of a similarly named magazine, the collection would have to be retitled. It was renamed
Picture of Heath, as more than half of the tracks are
Jimmy Heath compositions. Regardless, the music is the absolute same. These are the third sessions to feature the dynamic duo of
Art Pepper (alto sax) and
Chet Baker (trumpet). Their other two meetings had produced unequivocal successes. The first was during a brief July 1956 session at the Forum Theater in L.A.
Baker joined forces with
Pepper's sextet, ultimately netting material for the
Route LP. Exactly three months to the day later,
Pepper and
Baker reconvened to record tracks for the
Chet Baker Big Band album. The quartet supporting
Baker and
Pepper on Playboys includes
Curtis Counce (bass),
Phil Urso (tenor sax), Carl Perkins (piano), and
Larance Marable (drums).
Baker and
Pepper have an instinctual rapport that yields outstanding interplay. The harmony constant throughout the practically inseparable lines that
Baker weaves with
Pepper drives the bop throughout the slinky "For Minors Only." The soloists take subtle cues directly from each other, with considerable contributions from Perkins,
Counce, and
Marable. With the notorious track record both
Baker and
Pepper had regarding other decidedly less successful duets, it is unfortunate that more recordings do not exist that captured their special bond. These thoroughly enjoyable and often high-energy sides are perfect for bop connoisseurs as well as mainstream jazz listeners. ~ Lindsay Planer