We've already outlined a general history of jazz by strolling down the many highways and byways of its different styles during the first fifty years of its life; now we're going to propose another approach to this music, the most popular and creative of the 20th century, and incidentally, one that's still continuing to develop, though in a different manner. We'll be offering a chronological approach to the life and music of some great jazzmen. There are already several anthologies and compilations in this world to do with jazz and those who are part of it, but we wanted to take a different approach and go one step further if possible. We'll be following our selected artists into every corner of their life, their critical and popular successes, anything unusual or innovatory they introduced, all in their order of composition; another "extra" with us will be the sound which will be cleaned and restored. So here goes. Jazz to listen to, accept, listen to again, appreciate, think about. For these are the high points of a musical story belonging to the 20th century that's still relevant fifty years later. Andre Francis (Jazz Characters creator)

Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Bernie's Tune (B. Miller) Chet Baker 6'57
2. Line For Lyons (G. Mulligan) Gerry Mulligan Quartet 2'30
3. Walkin' Shoes (G. Mulligan) Gerry Mulligan Quartet 3'10
4. Freeway (C. Baker) Gerry Mulligan Quartet 2'43
5. Cherry (Redman) Gerry Mulligan Quartet 2'55
6. Festive Minor (Mulligan) Gerry Mulligan Quartet 4'09
7. The Way You Look Tonight (Fields - Kern) Stan Getz Quartet 6'20
8. The Lamp Is Low (Ravel - Parrish - DeRose) Chet Baker Quartet 2'31
9. Maid In Mexico (R. Freeman) Chet Baker Quartet 2'53
10. Imagination (Burke - Van Heusen) Chet Baker Quartet 2'59
11. Russ Job (R. Freeman) Chet Baker Quartet 2'52
12. Carson City Stage (C. Smith) Chet Baker Quartet 2'36
13. Loaded (Miller) Chet Baker And The Lighthouse All Stars 7'53
14. All The Things You Are (Kern - Hammerstein) Chet Baker Quartet 2'53
15. Happy Little Sunbeam (R. Freeman) Chet Baker Quartet 2'40
16. The Thrill Is Gone (Kern - Hammerstein) Chet Baker Quartet 2'50
17. Winter Wonderland (Bernard - Smith) Chet Baker Quartet 3'18
18. Bockhanal (Montrose) Chet Baker 2'56
19. Pro De Functus (Montrose) Chet Baker 3'23
20. Moonlight Becomes You (Burke - Van Heusen) Chet Baker 2'52
21. Love Walked In (G. - I. Gershwin) Chet Baker 2'57
22. A Little Duet (Montrose) Chet Baker 2'34

Disc 2:

1. But Not For Me (Gershwin) Chet Baker 3'02
2. I Get Along Without You Very Well (Carmichael) Chet Baker 2'56
3. Love (Martin - Blane) Chet Baker 2'32
4. The Wind (R.Freeman) Chet Baker 3'59
5. My Funny Valentine (Rodgers - Hart) Chet Baker Quartet 5'04
6. Dot's Groovy (Montrose) Chet Baker Sextet 4'31
7. The Half Dozens (Holman) Chet Baker Sextet 4'09
8. Little Man You've Had A Busy Day (Wayne - Sigler - Hoffman) Chet Baker Sextet 4'41
9. Just Friends (Klenner - Lewis) Chet Baker Quartet 2'42
10. Rondette (B. Zieff) Chet Baker Quartet 2'08
11. Sad Walk (B. Zieff) Chet Baker Quartet 4'11
12. Piece Caprice (B. Zieff) Chet Baker Quartet 5'07
13. There's A Small Hotel (V. Duke) Chet Baker Quartet 3'44
14. Tenderly (Laurence - Gross) Chet Baker Quartet 6'36
15. I'll Remember April (Johnson - Raye - DePaul) Chet Baker Quartet 5'50
16. Chet (P. Michelot) Chet Baker Orchestra 3'07
17. Once In A While (Edwards - Green) Chet Baker Quartet 5'32
18. Chekeetah (P. Urso) Chet Baker Quintet 5'59