Chet Baker/Paul Desmond - Together (CD)

All Music Guide

This lovely compilation taken from dates recorded in the mid-1970s presents two of jazzdom's great lyricists - the incomparable trumpeter, Chet Baker and the equally incomparable alto saxophonist, Paul Desmond. Both of the principals play superbly. Each note counts. For Desmond, the 1977 tracks - "You Can't Go Home Again," "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You," "You've Changed" and "How Deep Is The Ocean?" - were, with the exception of a cameo on an Art Garfunkel date, his last recordings. Along with "Tangerine" and "Autumn Leaves," there's also the impressive Don Sebesky arrangement of Joaguin Rodrigo's "Concierto De Aranjueza," with guitarist Jim Hall, pianist Roland Hanna, bassist Ron Carter and drummer Steve Gadd.

- Chuck Berg, Jazz Times, All Music Guide