Chet Baker was the doomed romantic prince of the cool jazz era. An untrained trumpeter and singer with a reputation for barely being able to read music, he had a keen ear and an uncanny melodic ability, and his dry tone on the trumpet was matched by his vibrato-free, nearly affectless singing style. Chet is an all-instrumental standards set, featuring the killer rhythm section of pianist Bill Evans, guitarist Kenny Burrell, bassist Paul Chambers, with Philly Joe Jones and Connie Kay alternating on drums; the front line includes flutist Herbie Mann and baritone saxophonist Pepper Adams. So it’s no wonder that the playing is absolutely top notch, the tempos relaxedly swinging, the grooves laid-back but solid.

– Rick Anderson