Trumpeter
Chet Baker and tenor saxophonist
Stan Getz are the featured artists on the aptly titled Californian Jam Sessions, which captures two of their earliest encounters in Los Angeles, at
the Haig on June 12, 1953, and
the Tiffany Club on August 17, 1953. These recordings have been issued in Europe and Japan ad infinitum in varying degrees of quality and completeness, and often sporting erroneous data. However, enthusiasts should note that West Coast Live is the only release derived from producer/engineer
Dick Bock's own master reels. For two men who purportedly would rather not be in the same room at the same time,
Baker and
Getz are able to create some legitimately brilliant improvisation. For the
Haig set,
Getz had been brought in to co-lead a quartet with
Baker for an incarcerated
Gerry Mulligan. Musically, the results vacillate. There are moments of sheer inspiration, such as the musical cat and mouse demonstrated on "Strike Up the Band" and the straight-ahead driving bop lines as the two bandy on "Yardbird Suite" -- which includes tasty solos from
Carson Smith (bass) and
Larry Bunker (drums). There are likewise the brass entanglements that plague "The Way You Look Tonight" as well as the opening of "Winter Wonderland," which suffers from the "too many cooks" syndrome. The second and shorter set is taken from a recording session held at
the Tiffany Club during the afternoon -- hence the lack of an audience response after each number.
Baker's quartet at the time boasted
Russ Freeman (piano) and
Shelly Manne (drums), as well as
Carson Smith (bass), who reprised his role at the heart of this quintet. All three tracks contain very little in the way of interaction between
Baker and
Getz, who essentially support the trio as opposed to their usual placement as co-leads. ~ Lindsay Planer, All Music Guide
