Description
Chet Baker – Sings And Plays With Bud Shank, Russ Freeman And Strings – 180 Gram Vinyl Record
Cut directly from the original analog tapes
Mastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio
Manufactured at Record Technology Inc. (RTI) on 180 gram vinyl
Recorded in the spring of 1955 at Capitol Studios in Hollywood, Chet Baker Sings and Plays (With Bud Shank, Russ Freeman and Strings) was released later that year by Pacific Jazz (PJ-1202). The sessions took place on February 28 and March 7, capturing Baker both as a tender vocalist and a lyrical trumpeter. Producer Richard Bock reunited Baker with his quartet—featuring pianist Russ Freeman, bassist Carson Smith (on March 7) and Red Mitchell (on February 28), plus drummer Bob Neel—then expanded the ensemble to include Bud Shank on flute and a string section arranged by Frank Campo, Johnny Mandel, and Marty Paich
Musically, the album juxtaposes intimate vocal torch songs with lush, orchestrated backdrops. Baker’s airy, intimate singing on standards such as “Someone to Watch Over Me” and “You Don’t Know What Love Is” sits alongside his muted‐trumpet improvisations over rich string voicings. The strings—four cellos and harp—add a warm, almost chamber‐jazz quality, while Shank’s flute weaves countermelodies on select tracks, reflecting the West Coast cool aesthetic that Baker epitomized in this era
The personnel on Sings and Plays reads like a who’s-who of 1950s West Coast jazz: Chet Baker on trumpet and vocals; Russ Freeman at the piano; Bud Shank doubling on flute; Red Mitchell and Carson Smith trading bass duties; Bob Neel on drums; with Ray Kramer, Ed Lustgarten, Kurt Reher, and Eleanor Slatkin handling cello, and Corky Hale on harp for the string‐augmented numbers. The elegant interplay between Baker and Freeman’s quartet and the sumptuous string arrangements showcases the versatility of Baker’s artistry—equally compelling as an instrumentalist and a crooner
Upon its release, Chet Baker Sings and Plays cemented Baker’s image as the “matinee idol” of cool jazz. Critics praised the record for its seamless blend of minimalistic West Coast sensibilities with romantic orchestral flourishes. Matt Collar of AllMusic observed that the album “helped set in stone the image of Baker as the jazz world’s matinee idol and icon of ’50s West Coast cool,” noting how the dual focus on vocals and trumpet broadened Baker’s appeal beyond bebop circles
Over six decades later, the album remains a touchstone for those drawn to Baker’s plaintive tone and the sophisticated elegance of cool‐era jazz.
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic sealed
Track Listing
Let’s Get Lost
This Is Always
Long Ago And Far Away
Someone To Watch Over Me
Just Friends
I Wish I Knew
Daybreak
You Don’t Know What Love Is
Grey December
I Remember You
