Playboys

Love this album! Chet & Art are at their best. Would recommend for Jazz lover.

Baker's best album for me. Good pressing. I play it quite oftenly.

Excellent

A great album.

Just to be clear I ordered this item but it is the "Jazz Wax Records" version and not the "Wax Time" (I believe one is the parent of the other). This is actually good because best I can figure the only version on the Wax Time label is as the re-titled "Picture of Heath" along with the alternate cover. I personally like this one better and bought this since I'll probably never drop the $100 on an original. I haven't heard an original to compare it to, but I can find no fault in the record on initial inspection or listen. The vinyl looks GREAT and is as shiny and free from flaws as any I've seen. The cover art leaves a little to be desired as it looks like a low-resolution scan of the original. That really is my only complaint but on an album with such iconic artwork its an important point and really the only reason I gave it 4 starts instead of 5.On the music itself: It's fantastic! If you are a Jazz fan particularly of Baker, Pepper, Carl Perkins or any of the other players on this album then don't hesitate to find yourself a copy! Whether this copy or another, this album will be one I play frequently.

These Halloween 1956 sides originally appeared as Playboys in 1961 on Pacific Jazz. Myth and rumor persist that, under legal advice from the publisher of a similarly named magazine, the collection would have to be retitled. When the CD version of the same material was issued in the early '90s, it had been accurately christened Picture of Heath -- as more than half of the tracks are Jimmy Heath compositions. Since then, a CD version sporting the original provocative '50s pinup cover and the name Playboys has also surfaced. Regardless of title, however, the music is the absolute same. These are the third sessions to feature the dynamic duo of Art Pepper (alto sax) and Chet Baker (trumpet). Their other two meetings had produced unequivocal successes. The first was during a brief July 1956 session at the Forum Theater in L.A. Baker joined forces with Pepper's sextet, ultimately netting material for the disc Route. Exactly three months to the day later, Pepper and Baker reconvened to record tracks for the Chet Baker Big Band album. The quartet supporting Baker and Pepper on Playboys includes Curtis Counce (bass), Phil Urso (tenor sax), Carl Perkins (piano), and Larance Marable (drums). Baker and Pepper have an instinctual rapport that yields outstanding interplay. The harmony constant throughout the practically inseparable lines that Baker weaves with Pepper drives the bop throughout the slinky "For Minors Only." The soloists take subtle cues directly off each other, with considerable contributions from Perkins, Counce, and Marable. With the notorious track record both Baker and Pepper had regarding other decidedly less successful duets, it is unfortunate that more recordings do not exist that captured their special bond. These thoroughly enjoyable and often high-energy sides are perfect for bop connoisseurs as well as mainstream jazz listeners.

Great vintage jazz from two masters

Not much that I can add.

La tromba di Chet è favolosa, anche se malinconica, a tratti, come sanno i jazzisti 🖐️ ho preso questo album perché sebbene mi piaccia la sua tromba non adoro Il suono della sua voce

Superbe

straight and simple: jazz-fans should have it in their collections.