Recorded in Italy in 1962,
Chet Is Back! showcases the "cool" trumpeter cutting loose on such bop-oriented workouts as "Pent-Up House" and "Well, You Needn't." Backed skillfully by a young cadre of up-and-coming European musicians, including the stellar saxophonist
Bobby Jaspar,
Chet Baker may have never sounded better, including on the ballads. One listen to "Over the Rainbow" and it's clear this is an overlooked
Baker classic. [Fans should check out the 2003 reissue of
Chet Is Back!, which includes four orchestral pop bonus tracks
Baker recorded with
Ennio Morricone around the same time as this session.]