Releasing an entire album under the moniker
Chet Baker Big Band is a bit of a misnomer, as only the first four sides actually incorporate an 11-person configuration. The remaining tracks from the long-player feature a slightly smaller nonet configuration. Among the luminaries joining
Baker (trumpet) and participating in the big-band arrangements are
Art Pepper (alto sax),
Bud Shank (alto sax),
Phil Urso (tenor sax), and
Bobby Timmons (piano). The critical argument proposing that
Baker's style is more akin to bop -- and the residual post-bop -- than the West Coast cool that he is often connected with gets tremendous validation throughout not only the four big-band tracks, but also the remainder of the album. The band bops with tremendous verve behind
Baker's unmistakable leads.
Jimmy Heath's ultrahip arrangements -- especially of "Tenderly" and "A Foggy Day" -- allow the soloists to improvise fluidly from within the context of the larger unit. The
Pierre Michelot composition "Mythe" is notable for some outstanding soloing from
Baker and
Timmons. It is a shame that poor master tape editing -- a motif that haunts many
Dick Bock productions -- mars the overall aesthetic. Of the nonet sides, the band really jumps and responds best to the original compositions such as
Phil Urso's "Phil's Blues" and "V-Line." The horn blend on these recordings is likewise striking. ~ Lindsay Planer