CHET BAKER — The Best of Chet Baker Sings (review)

CHET BAKER — The Best of Chet Baker Sings album cover Boxset / Compilation · 1989 · Vocal Jazz Buy this album from MMA partners
4.5/5 ·
Matt
Recorded over five different sessions from late 1953 to 56 with nine different musicians and Chet's trumpet is overdubbed and this actually was quite a new thing at the time in recording bringing splendid results to this collection of songs with all being standards in todays Jazz repertoire. The songwriters included are Gershwin, Rodgers and Hart, Hoagy Carmichael, Frank Loesser with the list just going on but one thing for sure is if you were brought up in the fifties and sixties so many of these songs will be very familar with some delightful interpretations from Chet Baker with the his horn overdub just putting the icing on the cake. The trio with Chet's vocals and trumpet are the entire make up of every session with Russ Freeman playing piano on the lot with the majority of the bass and drums by Carson Smith and Bob Neel, Shelley Manne makes an appearance but on only one of the tunes. Chet does not climb heights he sings within a mid range but the feeling is there with a hint of cynicism in his technique bringing a delightful difference to these tunes but alas Chet although a great musician had one of those lifes that seem to afflict so many people with drugs being the problem and was actually found dead on the pavement outside his 2nd story hotel room while in Amsterdam back in 1988 with the self destruction and waste finally coming to its end for him

No slamming band just Chet's vocals with every word sung as clear as a bell bringing a sparkling clarity with "The Thrill Is Gone" being the album's start with the piano intro and Chet's vocal just floating through the tune with his cool trumpet tone just bringing that necessary melancholy component. Gershwin's "But Not For Me" follows with its more up tempo rythmn and Chet's trumpet is delightful with his vocals."Time After Time', "I Get Along With Out You Very Well", " That Old Feeling" are covered with "My Funny Valentine' by Rodgers and Hart being another great laid back interpretation from Chet with that we have all day feel to the delivery within his songs. "Lets Get Lost' is an absolute stand out with its slight up tempo swingin' approach with Russ Freeman giving his piano a workout with a swinger for a solo. Still lots more on this twenty track album and we have to mention the song "Like Someone In Love" with that hint of cynicism from Chet within and the absolutely cool vibe is the best description for this ballad.

Great album for when you just want to relax or like me have had a hard night and would like to hear some beautifully styled jazz in that cool West Coast tradition and keep that wretched headache at bay.
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