Stan Getz, Chet Baker....Great Music Guys

Gorgeous, lyrical jazz makes me a happy camper. Today, I dug out an album of mine featuring Stan Getz on tenor saxophone and the man himself, Chet Baker on the trumpet and vocals. This kind of poignant and meaningful music proves to be so joyous. The Stan Getz rhythm section puts a superior sheen on the thoughtful jazz happening here. The section is made up of Jim McNeely on piano, George Mraz on the bass and Victor Lewis on drums. The sounds coming from this totally focused, genuine cadre of fellows are pleasingly brash and bursting with life. The group's version of the remarkable Benny Golson tune, 'Stablemates' is so unique. Also...the incomparable George Gershwin composition, 'But Not For Me' springs to life exquisitely thanks to these men. I love another song in this set...the lovely Samuel Lewis and John Klenner number, 'Just Friends.' Listen, for some good, tasteful jazz music that is just right for our December souls right now, dig the beautiful work here of the Stan Getz quartet along with the shiny artistry of the elegant Chet Baker.

Chet Baker paints good sense of 'Cool'

"Cool" trumpet playing knocks me out. In a huge way, I can really get into that brand of sounds. The slick man of "cool" from the West Coast, the grand horn man Chet Baker, is a marvelous exponent of the shiny, beautiful linear lines kind of mainstream jazz. Since the huge snow has eased here the super sounds of Chet Baker are apropos' for driving my mood up to a better plane. A finite, ice-cold biggie of a jazz composition interpretation is a track with Chet Baker on trumpet, the craftsman Paul Desmond on alto sax and the clever Bob James on keyboard. This particular track I am referencing is a mellow rendition of a pretty tune, 'Autumn Leaves.' Bob James work has a kind of picaresque mystery that is so good here. The alto sax work of Paul Desmond is interesting also on this one. One more grand ditty for me today was a vamping, sort of modal reading of the good standard, 'But Not For Me.' I have always enjoyed that one cause I can even recall one of the first times I heard the thing. That was the famed Prestige recording I think that had Miles Davis the trumpet master and the elegant man of the vibes, Milt Jackson. Anyway, it is great to get the "cool" and thrillingly refreshing sounds of Chet Baker plunked down in one's soul. That is a "fun" trip if there ever was one. Ciao!