CHET BAKER & ART PEPPER: PICTURE OF HEATH (mono)

Performer: Chet Baker, trumpet; Art Pepper, alto saxophone; Phil Urso, tenor sax; Carl Perkins, piano; Curtis Counce, bass; Larance Marable, drums

Author: Chet Baker & Art Pepper
Number of discs: 1
Label: Blue Note (Tone Poet)
Support: LPs
Genre: Jazz
Year: 2023

The Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series
180 gram audiophile LP
Remastered from the original analog tapes by Kevin Gray at Cohaerent Audio
Printed by RTI, USA
Elegant gatefold cover
Mono recording

The Blue Note Records has announced the continuation of the acclaimed Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series series, news that has been greeted with unanimous enthusiasm by audiophiles around the world. Launched in 2019 to celebrate the label's 80th anniversary, the Tone Poet series is produced by Joe Harley (Music Matters) and features all-analog audiophile 180-gram vinyl reissues remastered from the original tapes by Kevin Gray by the acclaimed Cohearent Audio studio. All discs in the series are made by RTI of Camarillo, California. Again, all titles have been carefully selected by Harley and comprise the crème de la crème of the Blue Note catalog, alongside underrated classics, more recent standouts and albums from other labels that have flourished under the Blue Note umbrella, including Pacific Jazz and United Artists Records. Every aspect of these new Blue Note/Tone Poet releases has been curated to achieve the highest possible quality standard. This means that – search as you might – you will never be able to find a better version. These disks are simply unreachable.

After having released together two sensational albums released by the Pacific Jazz label, in 1956 the great trumpeter Chet Baker and the legendary tenor saxophonist Art Pepper continued their fruitful collaboration with Picture of Heath, a record with distinctly swing tones, which should have been entitled Playboys , if at the last moment there hadn't been the decisive opposition of Hugh Hefner, publisher of the homonymous adult magazine. The sextet that took part in the making of this must-see record included some of the brightest talents on the West Coast jazz scene, including tenor saxophonist Phil Urso, pianist Carl Perkins, bassist Curtis Counce and drummer Larance Marable.

One of the most interesting aspects of this splendid album is that its program revolves around a series of songs by saxophonist Jimmy Heath, who wrote no less than five songs, namely "Picture of Heath", For Miles and Miles", "C.T.C. ”, “For Minors Only” and “Resonant Emotions”. The record focuses on two of Petter's most famous songs - "Minor-Yours" and "Tynan Tyme" - which are rendered with an absolutely irresistible interpretation, based on engaging solos and a captivating ensemble sound from the band, which helps to make this album one of the most emblematic titles of cool jazz.

Lato A
For Minors Only
Minor-Yours
Resonant Emotions
Tynan Tyme           

Lato B
Picture Of Heath
For Miles And Miles
C.T.A.