Chet Baker & Russ Freeman: Love Nest

On radio during the 1940s and TV in the '50s, comedians Burns & Allen closed each show with cigar-toting George telling his ditzy wife, "Say goodnight, Gracie." To which she'd respond, "Goodnight, Gracie." You hadda be there. Anyhow, Chet Baker crisply swings their theme song as proof that Miles Davis's closely miked, Harmon-muted trumpet style worked at fast tempos as well as on ballads. Pianist Russ Freeman (no relation to The Rippingtons guitarist) steadfastly insisted to naysayers that, uneven as Chet Baker could be, when he was on there was nobody better. In "Love Nest," Baker was ON. Say goodnight, Chet.