CHET BAKER — Witch Doctor (review)

CHET BAKER — Witch Doctor album cover Live album · 1985 · Hard Bop Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
js
In the early 50s an active jazz scene developed around the Lighthouse bar in Hermosa Beach an hour south of Los Angelas. Every Sunday, lengthy sessions would take place from 2 PM till 2AM featuring the all-star house band with visiting stars sitting in. On Sunday September 13 1953 there were three sets played at the club. The first set featured only the all-star house band, the third set featured Miles Davis and became the album, “At Last! Miles Davis and the Lighthouse All-Stars”, while the middle set featured Chet Baker and became this album, “Witch Doctor”.

This is a fun set, more like a jam session really. If you are thinking laid back west coast jazz, not really, only one cut has that “cool” vibe, the rest is hot up-tempo bop with a slightly modern hard edge. Of the five cuts, three have the very east coast driven Max Roach on drums which explains those tunes' hard swinging approach. The last two cuts feature the more laid back approach of Shelly Manne on the traps. The rest of the all-star band features greats like Bud Shank, Jimmy Giuffre and many more. One top cut on here is “Winter Wonderland”, which is a fast angular bop reading of the classic tune by Baker and a small quartet with Max Roach echoing Chet’s rapid phrases with syncopated rattles on the snare, Roach’s interest in experimenting with modern approaches to drumming is evident. Another great one is album closer “Witch Doctor” written by saxophonist Bob Cooper which features one of those classic Cab Calloway/Ellington minor key jazz noire repeating riffs, its similar to the sort of material that Charles Mingus would be mining soon.

In late summer on the west coast the weather is about as perfect as it gets, the music on here reflects that open upbeat atmosphere. I wish I could have been at the Lighthouse on this afternoon, it sounds like everyone is having a blast, both the audience and the musicians. This probably isn't the most precise or sensitive playing you will hear from these guys, but it doesn't matter, this one is all about sharing a good time.
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