Chet Baker - Essential Standards (2009)

Tracklist

01. Have You Met Miss Jones? (Album Version)
02. Old Devil Moon (Album Version)
03. My Funny Valentine (Instrumental)
04. The Song Is You (Album Version)
05. How High The Moon (Album Version)
06. Angel Eyes (Album Version)
07. Look For The Silver Lining (Album Version)
08. It Could Happen To You (Album Version)
09. Alone Together (Album Version)
10. Almost Like Being In Love (From Brigadoon)
11. Everything Happens To Me (Album Version)
12. When Lights Are Low (Album Version)

It's no secret that trumpeter (and sometime vocalist) Chet Baker excelled on ballads, so ESSENTIAL STANDARDS, a collection of late-'50s/early-'60s performances for the Riverside label, is pretty much a sure bet for those wishing an entry into the cool-jazz icon's vast body of work. The Riverside dates all vary in personnel--some are small combos, as on CHET, some are accompanied by big band or strings, etc. STANDARDS selects generously from all these dates, and even includes a rare early Mulligan-Baker quartet live version of "My Funny Valentine" from 1952 (sans vocals). Luckily, several Baker vocal selections are included here, mainly from the all-singing IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU session. Signature tunes such as "Everything Happens To Me" and an eerie "Angel Eyes" from 50 ITALIAN STRINGS are among the highlights.

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