Originally released as Chet Baker Quartet Vol. 2, the session that makes up this album occurred at the Pathe-Magellan Studio in Paris. The 1955 recording features Gerard Gustin on piano, Nils-Bertil Dahlander on drums, and Jimmy Bond on bass, and "The Prince of Cool" on the trumpet. Troubled by the death of Dick Twardzik (original pianist who had traveled to Europe with Baker) immediately after two earlier sessions, Baker forgoes the "highly innovative" new compositions w/ modern chord progressions the two used to favor and concentrates on standards, and a "cool-toned bop set" consisting of tracks like "These Foolish Things," "Autumn In New York," "There Is A Small Hotel," and "Summertime" are presented here on 180g vinyl. This heavyweight 180g reissue is part of the Leloir Collection, a limited retrospective series of some of the best jazz albums of all time with new artwork incorporating Jean-Pierre Leloir's iconic photography.

• limited edition
• 180 gram virgin vinyl reissue
• new cover art featuring iconic photos by Jean-Pierre Leloir
• deluxe gatefold sleeve
• music label: Jazz Images 1955 / 2016

reviewed by bar adal 06/2017