Chet Baker Chet Baker Sings on Limited Edition Import 180g LP Chet Baker made his musical debut in 1952 as an integral member of Gerry Mulligan's modernist piano-less quartet, by all accounts marking the beginning of the post-bop West Coast style. So it came as quite a surprise when Baker made his singing debut on this seminal 1954 release at the age of 24. Baker s sideline singing here reveals his songful roots in the swing of Harry James and other formative influences while the innocence of his All-American vocals make for an eerily -cool- listening experience as well as an authentically satisfying one. Throughout, pianist Russ Freeman s warm, solid touch serves as the perfect foil for Baker s affectless romanticism as heard to stunning affect on the definitive version of -My Funny Valentine- found herein.