Chet Baker - The Thrill Is Gone

This "box" set is different from anything I have seen before. The excellent booklet is placed between two concertina like structures both housing 5 CDs. Not sure I like this set up as I much prefer the Documents way of presenting 10 Cds. However, there are no gripes about the music. This issue claims to present "the complete studio master takes 1952-1956" (the actual period covered is July 1952 until March 1956.) The first 8 CDs contain tracks originally issue whilst the last two CDs hold alternative cuts. It is a pity that only studio cuts were included as this deprives the listener of Mulligan/Baker quartet sessions from January and May 1953 and some of the tracks they recorded with Lee Konitz. This would have allowed the set to include every track recorded by the Gerry Mulligan/ Chet Baker quartet. According to my records, there was an alternative version of "My Funny Valentine" from the Baker quartet session of 5th February 1954 but it is not here. The period covered here was a golden one for both Baker and Mulligan and contains some of their best work. I have samples all 10 CDs and can report that the sound quality is fine. Thoroughly recommended to everyone who, like me, considers the 1950s to be the golden decade of jazz.

10 CDs and an informative and detailed booklet for less than £20. Incredible value, Chet has never sounded better. Almost everything he did in the studio between 1952 and 1956, including some interesting alternate takes. Go and buy it. Then buy the companion set

I was given this as a present,and,unlike the previous reviewer,WAS familiar with the presentation from Chant Du Monde,with the pocket format,from the Coltrane European Tour recordings.I quite like the method,it's compact(no pun intended),and neatI'm not sure I agree the 50's were the best jazz years,I can think of many recordings from later decades that were pretty definitive,and Chet isn't my all time favourite jazz bad boy,that distinction belongs to Art Pepper,and as you may know,they played together(see the second box of Chet's recordings from the same label).But this is very good,and reasonably priced,as ever Chant do a very good job with the sound(the Coltrane discs were as god as the original sources permitted).Anyone who appreciates Chet will find plenty here to enjoy,although 2 discs of alternates I could dispense with,as I usually find these too similar to the approved versions(one very clear exception being the alternate take on Kind of Blue,which I find better than the chosen one).But there's no cause for complaint,and there's not so much quality jazz around nowadays that this can be overlooked.I may not consider the 50's the zenith of jazz,but the noughties have to be its nadir.Great tunes,all played with commitment.To coin a phrase,they don't make 'em like this anymore.