The best Chet Baker collection yet!
Stumpy | LA | 07/18/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Clearly with 331 search results returned from a search for "Chet Baker" you're going to have a hard time finding the right way to start a Chet Baker collection. He has more than a few great records but this one does the best job yet of choosing the finest material from his entire career (hence the title). The discs are broken out into one for his instrumental work and one for his vocal work. I can't say one is better than the other: they're both excellent. His early work with Stan Getz and Gerry Mulligan shows a remarkably talented yet subdued trumpeter. If he never sang in front of a microphone he would still be worthy of great praise. Thankfully he found his second talent for act two fo his career. The second disc displays his unique vocal style on such classics as "The Song Is You," "What'll I Do," "But Not For Me," and of course "My Funny Valentine."
Pick this up for yourself and pick one up for a friend while you're at it. Neither of you will be disappointed."