Chet Baker & Strings

There's a story that Charlie Parker, upon returning to New York from a trip to California, warned Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis about a new, young trumpet player out there named Chet Baker. These recordings demonstrate that the warning was justified.

This is top notch West Coast playing.......1999-12-13

This disc is actually "Quartet: Russ Freeman and Chet Baker" & is a Russ Freeman session issued under Chet's name. Russ composed 6 of the 8 tunes & he makes Chet work for his wages.

The album opens amusingly with "Love Nest," otherwise known as the theme for the Burns & Allen Show. Russ takes the lovely "Summer Sketch" solo half of the way through, then bringing Chet in for no more than a wonderfully pensive turn at the melody. That's followed by, for me, the album's two most swinging cuts, "An Afternoon at Home" & "Say When." They also pay homage to Billy Strayhorn with a romantic arrangement of "Lush Life."

This is top notch West Coast playing, with Shelly Manne on sticks & Leroy Vinnegar on big fiddle. Recorded in 1956. No singing. Check out the thumbnails on the insert by photographer William Claxton then check out the collections of great photos Claxton shot of this era & these talented musicians.

Bob Rixon, WFMU

Chet baker is God with a trumpet.......1999-03-10

He is the master of trumpet jazz. This is the most orginal CD I have ever heard. His playing is better than people give him credit for. This is what jazz in the 1950's was like. This is how Jazz should be !

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"For That Old, Old Feeling . . . Is Still In My Heart"
CHET BAKER SINGS.
The James Dean of Jazz
Chet Baker Sings!!!
Great CD if you like his vocals

Chet Baker Sings
Chet Baker
Manufacturer: Blue Note Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Embraceable You
The Best of Chet Baker Sings
My Funny Valentine
Songs for Lovers
The Last Great Concert: My Favorite Songs, Vol. 1 & 2

ASIN: B000005GW2
Release Date: 1998-01-27

Tracks:

That Old Feeling
It's Always You
Like Someone In Love
My Ideal
I've Never Been In Love Before
My Buddy
But Not For Me
Time After Time
I Get Along Without You Very Well
My Funny Valentine
There Will Never Be Another You
The Thrill Is Gone
I Fall In Love Too Easily
Look For The Silver Lining

Amazon.com

Recorded with pianist Russ Freeman's ensemble in 1954 and 1956, this is the archetypal Baker release, and the first one to get if you're testing the waters. Baker sings standards (including "My Funny Valentine," of course) as if stepping out of an androgynous dream, although it would take another 20 years of hard living for his voice to take on otherworldly qualities. Relaxed West Coast swing such as this can't be duplicated today. In its sweetly melancholic post- war foreboding, this is a Mike Davis book set to music. "Sings" should be on the required listening list for any history class covering the city of L.A. --D. Strauss

Customer Reviews:

"For That Old, Old Feeling . . . Is Still In My Heart".......2006-07-17

"You'll hear Chet Baker's trumpet as well as his voice on some of these songs; that's hardly startling, but it is startling to discover a voice and a horn of such quality with but a single source. Chet Baker has turned out to be a musician with such a wonderfully nice voice, it is a problem whether to speak of him as a 'trumpet player who also sings' or as a 'singer who also plays trumpet'." ~ Gerald Heard, Liner Notes ~

To me Chet Baker will always be famously known as the "trumpet player who also sings." This CD speaks of him more of a singer for this is the only album he was featured not only as a trumpet player but also as a singer. He superbly interpreted fourteen of the best standards of all-time with his soft and mellow voice and his wonderfully captivating trumpet playing. He was ably supported by Russ Freeman on piano and celeste, James Bond and Carson Smith on bass, Peter Littman, Lawrence Marable and Bob Neel on drums.

This CD will never disappoint the listeners for this is one of his best recordings. Its repertoire includes an impressive collection of great standards penned by George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne, Jim Van Heusen, Johnny Burke, Hoagy Carmichael, Mack Gordon, Harry Warren, Frank Loesser, Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart and many others. The best tracks for me include such lovely and timeless standard as Les Brown and Sammy Fain's "That Old Feeling."

"There'll be no new romance for me
It's foolish to start
For that old feeling
Is still in my heart."

You will also be pleased to hear "Like Someone In Love," "But Not For Me," "My Funny Valentine," "Time After Time" and my very highlight - one of my ultimate favorites from the pens of Mack Gordon and Harry Warren - "There Will Never Be Another You."

Very highly recommended.

CHET BAKER SINGS........2006-05-01

Of all Chet Baker recordings, this is the original from the mid-50s, and it remains the best. No quirky phrasings, just pure Chet. Don't confuse it with 'Chet Baker Sings and Plays,' a later recording with similar arrangements which seems much less fresh than the original, slower, chet's voice a bit strained and not as sincere, if that's the right word. His trumpet lags in many instances; and the piano work I found to be lacking. If you want to start a Chet collection, first get the original, CHET BAKER SINGS.

Barbara H., California poet.

The James Dean of Jazz.......2005-09-20

This, ladies and gentlemen, may be the best vocal Jazz album I have ever heard (I say have heard because I've only listened to maybe fifteen albums in the genre). By just destroying any credentials I had in the previous statement, lets move on to the review. This is a West Coast Jazz classic, truly one of the most overlooked outputs of the Cool School of Jazz. While not as technically competant as "Kind of Blue", I manage to listen to it just as much, if not more. Every song included on this disc is a classic standard, and Baker's version of "My Funny Valentine" is the greatest version of the song, beating out Sinatra's rendition by a mile. The instrumentation itself is flawless, as Mr. Baker's trumpet playing guides the band. He was as adept at the trumpet as he was at singing. The low-key and minimalist style of the band is perfect for the songs, and is one of the best bands in Jazz history. Influential and flawless, this is a must-have for any fan of post-war Jazz.

Chet Baker Sings!!! .......2005-03-21

Chet Baker is not the most talented singer in the world. He does get by doing it though. He's never off key, and has a good ear for pitch, but technically, he's not a great singer. But this is Chet Baker. Not a great singer, but his voice has warmth and it is unique.

Chet is not a singer. He is a trumpet player, who happens to sing sometimes. Somebody probaly talked him into singing, maybe the record company.

This album is a showcase for his voice. He goes through standards like But Not For Me, and Time After Time like he would if he was doing the melody with his horn. Then he compliments his warm singing voice with his warm trumpet tone.

Chet Baker is a very unique musician. His looks, his singing, his trumpet playing, his fame, it looked like he had it all. Actually he had a very horrible life, in his later years.

This is Chet Baker! Chet on the west coast, singing, blowing, and everything in between.

Great CD if you like his vocals.......2005-01-12

As the title says, this is Chet Baker Sings, so if you're looking for his instrumental work, this isn't it. It's a tired cliche I know, but you either love or hate Baker's singing voice. I happen to love it, but if you've never heard him sing, this guy was no Louis Armstrong! Baker's fragile, soft voice often sounded just on the edge of losing the tune entirely. This might sound horrible if you've never heard him, but I think it lends a uniqely emotional edge to this collection of standards. You have to hear it to make up your mind. The closest comparison I can think of is a more subdued Morrissey of all people. Singing jazz.

Pacific Jazz puts together two recordings, from 1954 & 1956 to form this compilation, together with a surprisingly good sound for such old recordings. Baker takes you on a tour through the Great American Songbook decades before Rod Stewart thought of it, with his unique vocals and trumpet punctuation. The small combos led on both sessions by Russ Freeman pretty much stay in the background and let Baker do his thing.

One factor I take into giving stars is "playability," which is simply how often I play something. This CD gets pulled out a lot so I'm giving it 5 stars.

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Playing by Heart
One of the few recent scores from the master
Meanwhile---back at the molasses factory
No Words To Discribe
Turn down the lights......

Playing by Heart (1998 Film)
Chris Botti
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000256HQ
Release Date: 2000-01-25

Tracks:

Remembering Chet
Playing By Heart
Game Of Hide And Seek
Tenderly - Chet Baker
I Didn't Love You Less
A Place Inside Alive And Well
Remembering Chet
Scene Unseen
You Go To My Head - Chet Baker
I Want To Stay The Night
Goodnight Moon
Mark's Graveyard Site
These Foolish Things - Chet Baker
Playing By Heart - Vows Renewed - Chet Baker/John Barry/Chris Botti

Amazon.com

In a 1996 review of the indie film Caught, movie critic Rex Reed paid the ultimate compliment to trumpeter Chris Botti, (who wrote the score and whose horn graced the soundtrack), comparing the young upstart's smoky style to that of a young Chet Baker. Botti has since gone on to great success in smooth jazz by combining a laid-back demeanor with attitude-filled grooves and picture-perfect melodies. Enter legendary composer John Barry--whose resume runs from Born Free to Dances with Wolves and, more jazzily, Body Heat. He loved director Willard Carroll's idea of lacing the soundtrack to Playing by Heart with a handful of 1956 Baker-quartet originals. Botti was an obvious choice when Barry chose to extend that vibe into the orchestral score, and the haunting album cover--featuring a pensive Barry between Botti and a young Baker, both holding their horns, over a black background--perfectly epitomizes the passing of the generational torch. The opening tune, "Remembering Chet," captures the essence of the whole album; Botti's balmy trumpet wafts over Lee Musiker's elegant piano meditation as the orchestra breezes in and out of the background. There's not a whole lot of rhythmic variation as the tracks progress, but Barry wisely mixes in a few other colorful elements throughout, most notably Daniel Higgins' romantic alto (trading riffs with Botti on the title theme) and Tommy Morgan's lonesome harmonica on "A Place Inside Alive and Well." The classic smooth, delicately bittersweet tones of Baker (on "Tenderly," "You Go to My Head" and "These Foolish Things" are interspersed between the Botti tunes, creating a contrast between the two horns. Arranged this way, it's almost like listening to a one-of-a-kind lesson between a legendary mentor and a student primed to carry on his legacy. -- Jonathan Widran

Customer Reviews:

Playing by Heart.......2006-03-25

This is a great soundtrack. Typical John Barry sweet melancholy melodic work. Marries well with many other Chris Botti CDs. Paralleling Chet Baker's work alongside Chris Botti's is an interesting approach. Barry, of course, is perfection itself.

One of the few recent scores from the master.......2005-05-24

Sadly, John Barry seems to be basically retired now. He hasn't scored a film since "Enigma" back in 2000. This was the film he did immediately before that, and while most of his score was dumped from the final theatrical version of "Playing By Heart," this album presents the score as he intended it, along with a few key pieces by Chet Baker that inspired the filmmakers and Barry.

This is not the Barry of the James Bond films, doing big, brassy orchestral sounds. Instead, we get a thoughtful, moody, jazzy Barry, closer to his roots in 50's clubs.

Reading the liner notes, with the director gushing about how perfect Barry was for the film, is a bit odd, since he proceeded to replace almost all of Barry's music with another composer. Still, this doesn't diminish the power of Barry's compositions.

I'm just glad we get to hear them, since rejected scores are almost always locked away in a vault somewhere. This music is too good for that, and somebody was thinking straight and knew this. Thank you to whoever approved the release of this album, it's unforgettable.

Meanwhile---back at the molasses factory.......2004-11-29

I've got nothing against Barry's addiction to his own slow hypno mode of music. I just wish he'd speed things up every once in a while. My favorite track is SCENE UNSEEN.

I'm not a fan of Chet Baker's slow tracks. As a matter of fact, I resent the fact that Chet is best known for those slow tracks. (David Thomson referred to them as "torch songs on dead batteries".) I vastly prefer Chet's collaborations with Gerry Mulligan.

No Words To Discribe.......2004-04-13

This CD is one of the best I've ever bought.
An essential for solitary and still nights.
The three performers are great.

Turn down the lights.............2003-10-10

The album that introduced me to Chris Botti. Bought it for the Chet Baker cuts, which are fine, but was blown away by Botti's work. This is a great bedroom jazz album. Sooooo mellow. Strong Barry influence on the intervening cuts which also goes to set the mood. Album hangs together very well as a single concept despite influences of three great artists.

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Songs for Lovers
Chet's Sensitive Side
Chet is Therapy
Chet vocals...at his best!
A great companion to "Let's Get Lost" or "Chet Baker Sings"

Songs for Lovers
Chet Baker
Manufacturer: Blue Note Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Best of Chet Baker Sings
My Funny Valentine
Embraceable You
Chet
Chet Baker Sings

ASIN: B000005H9P
Release Date: 1997-07-15

Tracks:

Come Rain Or Come Shine
My Old Flame
That Old Feeling
Lullaby Of The Leaves
There's A Lull In My Life
Moonlight In Vermont
Darn That Dream
My Ideal
Imagination
Embraceable You
Lush Life
Goodbye

Album Description

All twelve of these selections from Chet Baker's Pacific Jazz period are currently available elsewhere (although a few are only on Mosaic limited-edition box sets). The material is almost random and is not programmed in chronological order. Baker takes vocals on five tracks, including three from a 1957 session in which he was accompanied by just guitar and bass, and the emphasis throughout is on concise, melodic interpretations. There is just music on this ballad-oriented set (most notably "My Old Flame," "Lullaby of the Leaves" and "My Ideal").

Customer Reviews:

Songs for Lovers.......2006-03-15

I have been a fan of Chet's since the 1950s. I especially like when he sings. I recommend him to all the friend in my age group.

Chet's Sensitive Side.......2005-05-10

I own most of Chet Baker's recordings, and this (for the moment) is my favorite. This disc has one tone, I'd call it romantic melancholia. Even when he sings "happy" songs like "Come Rain or Come Shine" or "Embraceable You" there is a sadness in his voice. The sparse arrangements add to this feeling of quiet, brooding emotion.

The title of the disc "Songs for Lovers" is a little strange, probably dreamed up by a record exec. The inclusion of "Lush Life" (done as an instrumental here, but its lyrics are about a drunk who's wasted his life) and the closer "Goodbye" (one of my favorite tracks, an instrumental arranged by Jack Montrose for 4 horns and rhythm section) are both pretty dark. But don't get me wrong, these are still GREAT tracks.

My favorite song on the disc is "My Ideal," where Chet's pianist Russ Freeman plays celeste (a bell-like keyboard instrument). It provides the perfect backdrop for Chet's imaginings of the ideal woman. Freeman's piano intro on "Lush Life" is well-crafted as well, concise and understated but still clever. David Wheat's guitar playing on tracks such as "Come Rain or Come Shine" has the same understated feel, less really is more here.

Chet's crooning was not fully appreciated in his day. The jazz world of the 1950's favored cool instrumental jazz and what Chet was doing was seen as a tired throwback. Only recently has he gotten the recognition that he deserved. His trumpet playing is superb, nothing too flashy, but his mellow tone and brilliant phrasing make it work.

If you want more of Chet Baker check out "The Best of Chet Baker Sings." I would stay away from the "Jazz 'Round Midnight" disc, it's not his best. For more of his instrumental stuff, check out his albums recorded in Paris in the mid 1950's.

Happy listening!

Chet is Therapy.......2001-08-21

The perfect album for after work; this music really compliments that first wonderful moment when you kick off your shoes, ease your chair back...and relax with a cocktail after a hard day. Chet is my relaxation hero!

Chet vocals...at his best!.......2000-08-01

I have virtually everything that Chet Baker has done...especially the "standards". If you like his vocals, you will like this CD. If you like quiet, yet "rich" Chet Baker, I recommend this one. But, as far as I'm concerned, whatever Chet does is okay by me!

A great companion to "Let's Get Lost" or "Chet Baker Sings".......1999-06-15

It's ironic that an artist once primarily known for his trumpet-playing should have such a sweet, smooth tenor. Chet Baker's silky voice winds through his songs in a way that can sound both melancholy and hopeful at the same time. His vocals here provide the perfect counterpoint to the ultra-romantic titles found on "Songs for Lovers."

Standouts include a haunting rendition of "Come Rain or Come Shine," which along with some unique arrangement and instrumentation also shows off Baker's unique vocals to perfection. On this version Baker's fragile, sweet tenor gives the wistful impression of a guy who's going to stick around even if he may not be altogether worthy.

Some up-tempo standouts include "That Old Feeling," an example of Chet at his more cheerful, plus some terrific renditions of "Darn that Dream," "Embraceable You," and a don't-miss version of "Lush Life" from a guy who had certainly lived the song inside out.

Highly recommended! Also, don't miss "Chet Baker Sings" and, for later Chet, "Let's Get Lost."

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