Grey December (album)

Grey December is an album by jazz trumpeter Chet Baker compiling sessions recorded in 1953 and 1955 which was released on the Pacific Jazz label in 1992.^[1] The album compiles tracks previously released on the 1954 10-inch LP Chet Baker Ensemble, the 7-inch EP Chet Baker – Sings And Plays With Bud Shank, Russ Freeman And Strings, along with previously unissued alternate takes.

Grey December
Compilation album by Chet Baker
Released	1992
Recorded	December 14 & 22, 1953 and February 28, 1955
Studio	Capitol Melrose Ave (Hollywood)
Genre	Jazz
Length	53:05
Label	Pacific Jazz CDP 97160
Producer	Richard Bock
Chet Baker chronology
Chet Baker Sings (1954) Grey December (1992) Chet Baker & Strings (1953)

The CD cover uses the same picture by William Claxton as the original cover of LP Chet Baker Ensemble.

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]

Allmusic rated the album with 4 stars, stating: "Grey December is one of the better CD reissues featuring Baker's early-'50s recordings on Pacific Jazz, the purveyors of West Coast cool".^[2]

Track listing

All compositions by Jack Montrose except as indicated

1. "Grey December" (Frank Campo) – 3:40
2. "I Wish I Knew" (Mack Gordon, Harry Warren) – 3:59
3. "Someone to Watch over Me" (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin) – 3:00
4. "This Is Always" (Gordon, Warren) – 3:06
5. "Headline" (Jack Montrose) – 3:07
6. "Ergo" (Jack Montrose) – 3:08
7. "Bockhanal" (Jack Montrose) – 2:58
8. "Bockhanal" [Alternate Take] (Jack Montrose) – 2:33
9. "A Dandy Line" (Jack Montrose) – 2:48
10. "A Dandy Line" [Alternate Take] (Jack Montrose) – 2:48
11. "Pro Defunctus" (Jack Montrose) – 3:26
12. "Little Old Lady" (Stanley Adams, Hoagy Carmichael) – 2:47
13. "Little Old Lady" [Alternate Take] (Adams, Carmichael) – 2:00
14. "Moonlight Becomes You" (Johnny Burke, Jimmy Van Heusen) – 3:24
15. "Moonlight Becomes You" [Alternate Take] (Burke, Van Heusen) – 2:52
16. "Goodbye" (Gordon Jenkins) – 3:47
17. "Goodbye" [Alternate Take] (Jenkins) – 3:42

• Recorded at Capitol Studios in Hollywood on December 14, 1953 (tracks 5–10) and December 22, 1953 (tracks 11–17) and on February 28, 1955 (tracks 1–4)

Personnel

• Chet Baker – trumpet, vocals
• Bud Shank – flute (tracks 1–4)
• Herb Geller – alto saxophone, tenor saxophone (tracks 5–17)
• Jack Montrose – tenor saxophone (tracks 5–17)
• Bob Gordon – baritone saxophone (tracks 5–17)
• Russ Freeman – piano
• Joe Mondragon (tracks 5–17), Red Mitchell (tracks 1–4) – bass
• Shelly Manne (tracks 5–17), Bob Neel (tracks 1–4) – drums
• Corky Dale (tracks 1–4) – harp
• Ray Kramer, Ed Lustgarten, Kurt Reher, Eleanor Slatkin (tracks 1–4) – strings
• Franco Campo, Johnny Mandel, Marty Paich (tracks 1–4) – arrangement

References

1. Chet Baker discography accessed August 14, 2013
2. Planer, L. Allmusic listing accessed August 14, 2013