Complete Recordings

Seminal mid 50s sides from the team of Art Pepper and Chet Baker -- nearly 4 albums' worth of material on a 2CD set! The meeting of Baker and Pepper is a great one -- because Art's raspier tone on alto offset's the sweeter sound of Chet's trumpet -- making for a combination that is certainly one of the most memorable in LA jazz of the time! The set features two small group sessions by Chet and Art for Pacific Jazz -- Playboys and The Route -- both done in sextet mode, with either Phil Urso or Richie Kamuca on tenor. The pair work in a slightly larger group on the album Jack's Groove (the rarest in the bunch here) -- issued under the name of trumpeter Jack Sheldon, with Herb Geller and Harold Land also in the mix. Last up is the biggest group of all -- heard on Chet's excellent Big Band album for Pacific jazz -- a whole new dimension of his talents, and one of the best west coast sessions of its type from the time! 2CD set features 27 tracks in all -- with titles that include "Tynan Time", "Minor Yours", "The Route", "Little Girl", "Ol Croix", "Tenderly", "A Foggy Day", "Younger Than Springtime", "Aplomb", "Sunset Eyes", "JS", "Anyhow", "Julie Is Her Name", "For Minors Only", and "For Miles & Miles".

Disc One: 12-15: Originally Issued at Chet Baker Big Band: Chet Baker, Norman Faye, Conte Candoli (trumpet); Frank Rosolino (trombone); Art Pepper, Bud Shank (alto sax); Phil Urso, Bill Perkins (tenor sax); Bobby Timmons (piano); Jimmy Bond (bass); Lawrence Marable (drums); Jimmy Heath (arrangements) - Los Angeles, October 26, 1956.

Disc 2: 1-7: Chet Baker-Art Pepper Sextet: Playboys: Chet Baker (trumpet); Art Pepper (alto sax); Phil Urso (tenor sax); Carl Perkins (piano); Curtis Counce (bass); Lawrence Marable (drums); Jimmy Heath (arrangements) - Los Angeles, October 31, 1956.

Disc 2: 8-12: Jack Sheldon Big Band. Originally released as Jack's Groove: Jack Sheldon, Chet Baker (trumpet); Stu Williamson (valve trombone); Herb Geller, Art Pepper (alto sax); Harold Land (tenor sax); Paul Moer (piano); Buddy Clark (bass); Mel Lewis (drums) - Los Angeles, August 1957.