This hard to find studio recording featuring some of the best jazz men in the business. Recorded in 1982 by legendary Rudy Van Gelder and produced by another legend Creed Taylor.
This is without question a spectacular album that at times is over looked for some reason. But look who is on the album Chet Baker,Jim Hall, Hubert Lewis,Gary King,Steve Gadd,Jorge Dalto and Sammy Figueroa, with Don Sebesky do the arranging.
When one looks at the all star line up on this session, it is a virtual who's , who of jazz greats. For instance Chet Baker on trumpet was in rare from here and seldom has sounded better than on this recording.
Jim Hall the anchor here is laying licks as only he could do. Perhaps the best guitarist in all of jazz and that is saying a lot, few are his peers.
Hubert Laws as always giving a solid performance on flute and coming in at the right pace. An under rated performance by the critics, but nonetheless his artistry is undeniable here.
Steve Gadd one of the premier session drummers and always in high demand and on this recording is showcasing his immense talent. Not over the top here, but laying the basis for this music.
Kenny Barron one of the finest jazz pianist out there and his lyrical way of layering the piano into this music is at times mesmerizing.
The remaining artists here are just superb, clearly one of the great sessions to be recorded. Very highly recommended. I have had this in my permanent rotation for years now and never get tired of giving it a spin.
Tracks Are:
Malaguena [9:44]
Django [10:02]
Swan Lake [8:42]
All Blues [9:43]
The Artist:
Chet Baker - Trumpet
Jim Hall - Guitar
Hubert Laws - Flute
Kenny Barron - Piano
Jorge Dafto - Percussion
Sammy Figueroa - Conga
Steve Gadd - Drums
Gary King - Bass [electric]
George Mraz - Bass [acoustic]
Jack Wilkins - Guitar
Recorded March and April 1982 on the CTI Label and is catalog number CTI 9007.
Recorded by Rudy Van Gelder at his studios in New Jersey.
For some odd reason was never released to CD.
This remains as one of the great studio sessions by these greats and it shows with these artist,holding nothing back and being right on cue with each other. Particulary Chet Baker was in great form and never sounded better and Jim Hall was putting his own gifted signature on this great album.
The spine-tingling sound of Chet Baker's horn cutting through the darkness of a warm, midnight-blue, scent-laden night is an unforgettable experience.
Trumpeter Chet Baker, with his smouldering 'James Dean' looks, was one of the music's most individual voices, but, at the same time, one of the music's most tormented souls. For Chet Baker -- celebrated as one of the music's most revered and instantly recognisable trumpet stylists -- life was a constant struggle against a weakness for drugs which would constantly challenge one of the music's most creative spirits. It was a challenge that ended abruptly and tragically, on the pavement of an Amsterdam street in 1988, as a result of his falling from a balcony.
However, in spite of challenging Baker the man, somehow his dependence never completely overwhelmed Baker the musician, as you can hear on these significant sides.
The session's a larger group effort headed up by Don Sebesky, and featuring key solos by Chet Baker, Jim Hall, and Hubert Laws – all of whom get plenty of room to do their thing on the album's longer tracks! Other players include Kenny Barron, Jack Wilkins, Jorge Dalto, George Mraz, and Steve Gadd – plus bit of added percussion – and although the group is large, the overall sound is relatively lean – spacious and airy, in keeping with Baker's best moments on records like these, and always sensitive enough to let Hall's gentle work on the strings of his guitar shine through nicely!
One has to hear this album to really appreciate what went into it and the music that emerged by the genius of Rudy Van Gelder who was able to capture all of it.
Great studio albums come along so very rarely and when these giants parked their egos at the door to do this, the result was an album of incredible jazz.
Definitely for the jazz historian or jazz collector,a must have to fill in that gap in your library.
This is without question a spectacular album that at times is over looked for some reason. But look who is on the album Chet Baker,Jim Hall, Hubert Lewis,Gary King,Steve Gadd,Jorge Dalto and Sammy Figueroa, with Don Sebesky do the arranging.
When one looks at the all star line up on this session, it is a virtual who's , who of jazz greats. For instance Chet Baker on trumpet was in rare from here and seldom has sounded better than on this recording.
Jim Hall the anchor here is laying licks as only he could do. Perhaps the best guitarist in all of jazz and that is saying a lot, few are his peers.
Hubert Laws as always giving a solid performance on flute and coming in at the right pace. An under rated performance by the critics, but nonetheless his artistry is undeniable here.
Steve Gadd one of the premier session drummers and always in high demand and on this recording is showcasing his immense talent. Not over the top here, but laying the basis for this music.
Kenny Barron one of the finest jazz pianist out there and his lyrical way of layering the piano into this music is at times mesmerizing.
The remaining artists here are just superb, clearly one of the great sessions to be recorded. Very highly recommended. I have had this in my permanent rotation for years now and never get tired of giving it a spin.
Tracks Are:
Malaguena [9:44]
Django [10:02]
Swan Lake [8:42]
All Blues [9:43]
The Artist:
Chet Baker - Trumpet
Jim Hall - Guitar
Hubert Laws - Flute
Kenny Barron - Piano
Jorge Dafto - Percussion
Sammy Figueroa - Conga
Steve Gadd - Drums
Gary King - Bass [electric]
George Mraz - Bass [acoustic]
Jack Wilkins - Guitar
Recorded March and April 1982 on the CTI Label and is catalog number CTI 9007.
Recorded by Rudy Van Gelder at his studios in New Jersey.
For some odd reason was never released to CD.
This remains as one of the great studio sessions by these greats and it shows with these artist,holding nothing back and being right on cue with each other. Particulary Chet Baker was in great form and never sounded better and Jim Hall was putting his own gifted signature on this great album.
The spine-tingling sound of Chet Baker's horn cutting through the darkness of a warm, midnight-blue, scent-laden night is an unforgettable experience.
Trumpeter Chet Baker, with his smouldering 'James Dean' looks, was one of the music's most individual voices, but, at the same time, one of the music's most tormented souls. For Chet Baker -- celebrated as one of the music's most revered and instantly recognisable trumpet stylists -- life was a constant struggle against a weakness for drugs which would constantly challenge one of the music's most creative spirits. It was a challenge that ended abruptly and tragically, on the pavement of an Amsterdam street in 1988, as a result of his falling from a balcony.
However, in spite of challenging Baker the man, somehow his dependence never completely overwhelmed Baker the musician, as you can hear on these significant sides.
The session's a larger group effort headed up by Don Sebesky, and featuring key solos by Chet Baker, Jim Hall, and Hubert Laws – all of whom get plenty of room to do their thing on the album's longer tracks! Other players include Kenny Barron, Jack Wilkins, Jorge Dalto, George Mraz, and Steve Gadd – plus bit of added percussion – and although the group is large, the overall sound is relatively lean – spacious and airy, in keeping with Baker's best moments on records like these, and always sensitive enough to let Hall's gentle work on the strings of his guitar shine through nicely!
One has to hear this album to really appreciate what went into it and the music that emerged by the genius of Rudy Van Gelder who was able to capture all of it.
Great studio albums come along so very rarely and when these giants parked their egos at the door to do this, the result was an album of incredible jazz.
Definitely for the jazz historian or jazz collector,a must have to fill in that gap in your library.
