AMG Review of Chet Baker with Fifty Italian Strings

Scott Yanow
All Music Guide

In 1959 while in Italy, Chet Baker was showcased playing trumpet and (on five of the ten songs) singing a set of ballads while backed by a large string section. Fans will want this set but, due to the mundane string arrangements and the lack of variety, more general collectors should acquire his earlier jazz-oriented dates first. [Chet Baker with Fifty Italian Strings was reissued in 2006 with a bonus track.]