Playboys | ||||
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Studio album by Chet Baker and Art Pepper | ||||
Released | 1956 | |||
Recorded | October 31, 1956 | |||
Studio | Radio Recorders, Hollywood, California | |||
Genre | Jazz | |||
Length | 40:07 | |||
Label | Pacific Jazz PJ 1234 | |||
Producer | Richard Bock | |||
Chet Baker chronology | ||||
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Art Pepper chronology | ||||
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Picture of Heath cover | ||||
Playboys is a 1956 jazz album featuring trumpeter Chet Baker and saxophonist Art Pepper. [1] The album was the third collaboration between Pepper and Baker,following The Route and Chet Baker Big Band. All three albums were recorded in 1956.
Playboys was reissued in 1961 under the name Picture of Heath after the fifth track (itself a reference to Jimmy Heath,composer of all but two of the tracks). The tracks themselves were presented in a slightly different order,starting with the new title track. Hugh Hefner reportedly objected to the original album cover (clearly inspired by Playboy magazine with its near-identical wordmark and pinup photo) and threatened to sue. [2] For Picture of Heath,the original cover was replaced with a photo of the artists in the recording studio. The 1990 Blue Note/Pacific Jazz CD reissue of Playboys used the 'pin-up' cover,but the same label's 1998 CD reissue returned to the Picture of Heath cover.
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [3] |
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings | [4] |
Lindsay Planer of AllMusic stated:"These thoroughly enjoyable and often high-energy sides are perfect for bop connoisseurs as well as mainstream jazz listeners". [3]
All compositions by Jimmy Heath,except as indicated
Arthur Edward Pepper Jr. was an American jazz musician,most known as an alto saxophonist. He occasionally performed and recorded on tenor saxophone,clarinet and bass clarinet. Active primarily in West Coast jazz,Pepper first came to prominence in Stan Kenton's big band. He was known for his emotionally charged performances and several stylistic shifts throughout his career,and was described by critic Scott Yanow as having "attained his goal of becoming the world's greatest altoist" at the time of his death in 1982.
James Edward Heath,nicknamed Little Bird,was an American jazz saxophonist,composer,arranger,and big band leader. He was the brother of bassist Percy Heath and drummer Albert Heath.
Miles Davis,Vol. 2 is the fifth 10-inch LP by trumpeter Miles Davis,recorded on April 20,1953 and released on Blue Note later that year—his second session and first release for the label.
Miles Davis,Volumes 1 &2 are a pair of separate but related albums by American jazz trumpeter Miles Davis recorded on May 9,1952,April 20,1953 and March 6,1954 and released on Blue Note early 1956. The three sessions were originally released on ten-inch LPs as Young Man with a Horn (1953),Miles Davis,Vol. 2 (1953) and Miles Davis,Vol. 3 (1954),respectively.
Interplay for 2 Trumpets and 2 Tenors is a jazz album released in November 1957 by Prestige Records. It is credited to Idrees Sulieman,Webster Young,John Coltrane and Bobby Jaspar,with Mal Waldron,Kenny Burrell,Paul Chambers and Art Taylor.
Phil Urso was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and composer known for his association with trumpeter Chet Baker.
Candy is an album by American jazz trumpeter Lee Morgan recorded on November 18,1957 and February 2,1958 and released on Blue Note in 1958. The quartet features rhythm section Sonny Clark,Doug Watkins and Art Taylor.
Chet is an album by jazz trumpeter Chet Baker first released in 1959. The record is sometimes subtitled The Lyrical Trumpet of Chet Baker. Chet features performances by Baker with alto flautist Herbie Mann,baritone saxophonist Pepper Adams,pianist Bill Evans,guitarist Kenny Burrell,bassist Paul Chambers,and either Connie Kay or Philly Joe Jones playing drums. It was recorded in December 1958 and January 1959 and released on the Riverside label.
Afro-Cuban is an album by American jazz trumpeter Kenny Dorham,recorded for Blue Note on March 29,1955 and released later that year on the Blue Note Modern Jazz Series,shortly before the label discontinued the format. It was soon reissued on the new 1500 series,recompiled with a session by an early incarnation of the ensemble,with new cover art.
A Sure Thing is an album by American trumpeter Blue Mitchell with orchestra recorded in 1962 and released on the Riverside label.
Chet Baker Big Band is an album by jazz trumpeter Chet Baker recorded in 1956 and released on the Pacific Jazz label.
Chet Baker &Crew is an album by jazz trumpeter Chet Baker which was recorded in Los Angeles in 1956 and released on the Pacific Jazz label.
Chet Baker &Strings is an album by jazz trumpeter Chet Baker recorded in late 1953 and early 1954 and released on the Columbia label.
West Coast Live is a live album by trumpeter Chet Baker and saxophonist Stan Getz which was recorded in California in 1953 but not released until 1997,on the Pacific Jazz label.
Theme Music from "The James Dean Story" is a 1956 soundtrack album to the James Dean biopic,The James Dean Story composed by Leith Stevens and featuring trumpeter Chet Baker and saxophonist Bud Shank.
Reunion with Chet Baker is an album recorded in 1957 by saxophonist Gerry Mulligan's Quartet with trumpeter Chet Baker which was released by World Pacific. It was Baker's first recording after moving to New York City.
Chet Baker in New York is an album by trumpeter Chet Baker recorded in 1958 and released on the Riverside label early the following year. The album includes a Benny Golson composition,"Fair Weather",that is not to be confused with a Kenny Dorham song of the same name that Baker recorded in 1986 for the Round Midnight soundtrack album.
Chet Baker Plays the Best of Lerner and Loewe is an album by trumpeter Chet Baker featuring show tunes by Lerner and Loewe which was recorded in 1959 and released on the Riverside label.
Chet Baker in Milan is an album by trumpeter Chet Baker which was recorded in Italy in 1959 and released on the Jazzland label.
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. 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.