Stan Getz Quartet with Chet Baker – Quintessence, volume II
Album review ~allmusic.com
It’s regrettable that Stan Getz and Chet Baker disliked one another personally, for they had so much in common musically. Both came out of jazz’s Cool School, had delightful tones, favored subtlety and restraint, and both could be incredibly lyrical — no jazzman has played ballads more beautifully than Getz or Baker. Recorded live in Norway in 1983 but not released commercially until 2000, Quintessence, Vol. 2 offers a rare chance to hear them co-leading a quintet.
One wishes that Getz and Baker (who are joined by pianist Jim McNeely, bassist George Mraz and drummer Victor Lewis) had been able to put their personal differences aside and play together more often, for the two are a highly appealing combination on standards that range from “It’s You or No One” and “I’ll Remember April” to Billy Strayhorn’s “Blood Count,” Gerry Mulligan’s “Line for Lyons,” and Sonny Rollins’ “Airegin.” Getz and Baker are both swinging, yet they swing in a consistently melodic fashion and remind us that while they had impressive chops, they didn’t feel the need to beat listeners over the head with them.
Like Getz, Baker used his instrument to tell meaningful stories instead of trying to dazzle you with his technique. This CD is rewarding as well as historically important. One can’t help but wonder if it would have been even stronger if Getz and Baker had been able to get along outside of a musical setting.
Tracklist:
01. Conception (7:45)
02. We’ll Be Together Again (6:56)
03. I’ll Remember April (9:05)
04. Blood Count (4:23)
05. It’s You or No One (6:48)
06. Airegin (5:35)
07. Line for Lyons (2:20)
Personnel:
Stan Getz – tenor saxophone
Chet Baker – trumpet
Jim McNeely – piano
George Mraz – bass
Victor Lewis – drums
Additional Info:
Produced for Concord Records by Steve Getz
Originally produced for NRK Radio by Johs Bergh
Executive Producer: John Burk
Associate producer: Barry Hatcher
Recorded live by BRK Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation,
at Sandvika Kino, Baerum, Norway - February 19, 1983
Engineered by Morten Hermansen & Dag Kristoffersen
Originally broadcast in two parts on NRK, March 1 & 24, 1983
Edited & Assembled by Phil Edwards at PER, Hayward, CA
Mastered by George Horn
Director of Product Development: Alexis Davis
Production Manager: David Millar
Art Direction: ML Haynes
Photography: Jan Persson
Released by arrangement with NRK Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation
Liner notes by Steve Getz and Dr. Herb Wong
Genre: Bop/Cool
Label: Concord Jazz
Year: 2000
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