"Freeway" is a 1952 jazz song composed by

Chet Baker Chesney Henry "Chet" Baker Jr. (December 23, 1929 – May 13, 1988) was an American jazz trumpeter and vocalist. He is known for major innovations in cool jazz that led him to be nicknamed the "Prince of Cool". Baker earned much attention and ...

and recorded with the

Gerry Mulligan Gerald Joseph Mulligan (April 6, 1927 – January 20, 1996), also known as Jeru, was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, composer and arranger. Though primarily known as one of the leading jazz baritone saxophonists—playing the instrum ...

Quartet. The song was released as part of an LP album and an EP single in the U.S. and a 45 single in the UK and France in 1952.

Background

"Freeway" was recorded in sessions on October 15–16, 1952 at Gold Star Studios in Los Angeles, California. The personnel were Chet Baker, trumpet; Gerry Mulligan, baritone sax; Bob Whitlock, bass; and

Chico Hamilton Foreststorn "Chico" Hamilton (September 20, 1921 – November 25, 2013) was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. He came to prominence as sideman for Lester Young, Gerry Mulligan, Count Basie, and Lena Horne. Hamilton became a bandleader, ...

, drums. The sessions were supervised by

Richard Bock Richard W. Bock (July 16, 1865 – 1949) was an American sculptor and associate of Frank Lloyd Wright. He was particularly known for his sculptural decorations for architecture and military memorials,Lorado Taft''The History of American Sculptur ...

and

Roy Harte Roy S. Harte (May 27, 1924 – October 26, 2003) was an American jazz drummer and co-founder of Nocturne Records and Pacific Jazz Records. In partnership with Remo Belli, the founder and namesake of internationally famous drumhead manufacturer ...

. The song was released as part of a 7", vinyl 45 picture sleeve EP single on Pacific Jazz Records. The song was also on the 10" LP album released in 1952. The song inspired the title of the 2012 musical by Bryce Hallet and Tim Draxl, based on the life and career of Chet Baker, ''Freeway - The Chet Baker Journey''.

Album appearances

"Freeway" appears on the following albums: * ''Gerry Mulligan Quartet'', Pacific Jazz Records, 1952 * ''Gerry Mulligan: Timeless'', Pacific Jazz, 1963 * ''Chet Baker: The Pacific Jazz Years'', Pacific Jazz, 1994 * ''The Gerry Mulligan Quartet: The Original Quartet with Chet Baker'', Pacific Jazz, 1998. * ''The Definitive Chet Baker'', Blue Note Records, 2002.

Other recordings

Tim Draxl recorded a version on his album ''My Funny Valentine'' released in 2012 on Fanfare Records. The Tantillo Patti Quintet featuring Stefano Bagnoli has recorded "Freeway" on the 2013 album ''Rewind''.

References

Sources

*Baker, Chet. ''As Though I Had Wings: The Lost Memoir''. St. Martin's Press, 1997. *Baker, Chet. ''The Chet Baker Collection. Artist Transcriptions. Trumpet.'' Milwaukee, WI: Hal Leonard Corporation, 2013. *Claxton, William. ''Young Chet: The Young Chet Baker.'' Te Neues Pub. Group, 1999. *De Valk, Jeroen. ''Chet Baker: His Life and Music''. Berkeley Hills Books, 2000. *Gavin, James. ''Deep in a Dream: The Long Night of Chet Baker''. 2011. *Rouy, Gérard. ''Chet Baker.'' Paris: Editions du limon, 1992. *Ruddick, Matthew. ''Funny Valentine: The Story of Chet Baker''. Melrose Books, 2012. {{authority control 1952 songs Chet Baker Jazz songs Jazz compositions 1950s instrumentals Cool jazz