Chet Baker - The Riverside Collection (2017)

Remembered as one of the most legendary yet tragic figures in all of jazz, trumpeter and vocalist Chet Baker established himself as one of the key performers on the West Coast scene. Beginning his career as a band leader in the early 1950s, Baker released a stream of classic albums, often featuring the skills of other exceptional musicians such as Gerry Mulligan, Russ Freeman, Stan Getz and Art Pepper. Recording regularly for Riverside - and subsidiary label Jazzland - it was during his tenure with this label that Baker produced the work that would cement his reputation. This collection brings together eight complete, original albums over four discs, and encompasses the entirety of Chet Baker's output for the Riverside label. Spanning over five hours of extraordinary music, this set documents the second phase of what was both a widely-celebrated and notorious career, and in so doing reminds us all what a formidable musician, vocalist and individual this jazz legend remains.