Gerry Mulligan Quartet - Gerry Mulligan Quartet (Vol. 2) (1953/2019)

The second volume featuring early-'50s sessions by the Gerry Mulligan Quartet continues where the first left off, though including a number of alternate takes. By this time, the personnel had steadied with Mulligan and Chet Baker accompanied throughout their remaining sessions together by bassist Carson Smith and drummer Larry Bunker. The standout tracks include a remake of the baritone saxophonist's "Jeru" (recorded previously during the nonet sessions which were eventually gathered for Miles Davis' Birth of the Cool album) and the landmark treatment of "My Funny Valentine," a standard that would remain a key part of Baker's repertoire for the remainder of his life. Although this music was reissued several times, including in an extensive boxed set by Mosaic and the later The Complete Pacific Jazz Recordings of the Gerry Mulligan Quartet with Chet Baker, this edition, like the earlier bigger collections, is already an out of print collectible fetching a premium price. This important release should be considered essential for anyone interested in West Coast jazz.