Chet Baker Sings and Plays (subtitled With Bud Shank, Russ Freeman and Strings) is an album by jazz trumpeter Chet Baker recorded in 1955 for Barclay Records and released on the Pacific Jazz label.[1]
Matt Collar of Allmusic stated, "With the growing popularity of Chet Baker's first vocal album, Chet Baker Sings, Pacific Jazz producer Richard Bock wanted to capitalize on both facets of his young star's abilities. Hence, the trumpeter turned vocalist entered the studio in 1955 with both his quartet featuring pianist Russ Freeman and an expanded sextet including bassist Red Mitchell, Bud Shank on flute, and various string players. The resulting album, Chet Baker Sings and Plays, helped set in stone the image of Baker as the jazz world's matinee idol and icon of '50s West Coast cool".[2]
Cover
The cover is a mostly black and white collage made of various sources. The photos of Baker were taken by William Claxton. The picture of the Colosseum evokes Europe, where Baker began touring for the first time in September 1955. Images of Cupid, flowers, and a cropped close-up of Baker with his girlfriend Lili Cukier reflect the romantic track listing, containing love and torch songs. The song titles are spelled out in words taken from magazines.
Recorded at Capitol Studios in Hollywood, California on February 28, 1955 (tracks 2, 4, 6 & 9) and in Los Angeles, California on March 7, 1955 (tracks 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10 & 11)
