{|Chet Baker|}'s West Coast cool comes to the Big Apple on {|Chet Baker in New York|}. The project would be {|Baker|}'s first -- in a four album deal -- with the Big Apple-based {|Riverside Records|}. The bicoastal artist incorporates his decidedly u... Read more

{|Chet Baker|}'s West Coast cool comes to the Big Apple on {|Chet Baker in New York|}. The project would be {|Baker|}'s first -- in a four album deal -- with the Big Apple-based {|Riverside Records|}. The bicoastal artist incorporates his decidedly undernourished sound and laid-back phrasing into the styling of {|Al Haig|} (piano), {|Johnny Griffin|} (tenor sax), {|Paul Chambers|} (bass), and {|Philly Joe Jones|} (drums). The results are uniformly brilliant as {|Baker|}'s cool-toned solos fly and bop with authority around the equally impressive supporting soloists. Conversely, the same cohesive unity continues on the introspective numbers that are more akin to {|Baker|}'s California cool. Undoubtedly one of the charms of this collection is the distinct choice of material. Running the gamut from the relaxed and soothing {|Polka Dots and Moonbeams|} and equally serene {|Blue Thoughts|} at one end of the spectrum to the percolating and driving intensity of {|Hotel 49|} on the other. This track features each quintet member taking extended solos corralling together at the head and again at the coda for some intense {|bop|} interaction. Especially ferocious is {|Philly Joe Jones|}, who could easily be mistaken for {|Keith Moon|}, {|Ginger Baker|}, or even {|Gene Krupa|} with his cacophonous solo that never strays from the beat or loses its sense of swing. Perhaps the best meshing of styles can be heard on the {|Miles Davis|} composition {|Solar.|} This best-of candidate refers to both {|Chambers|}' and {|Jones|}' concurrent involvement with {|Davis|}. The churning backbeat likewise propels the melody and ultimately the performers into reaching beyond their individual expertise and into an area of mutual brilliance. {|Chet Baker in New York|} is a highly recommended entry into {|Baker|}'s catalog. It should also be noted that these same sides were issued in 1967 as {|Polka Dots and Moonbeams|} on the {|Jazzland|} label. ~ Lindsay Planer Less