Chet Baker 3 Essential Albums

This three-album collection explores the jazz icon's broad range of interests: "Stan Meets Chet" (1958) is a wholly instrumental collaboration with Stan Getz; "Baby Breeze" (1965) features Chet's vocals and flugelhorn backed by a large ensemble; and "You Can't Go Home Again" (1977) is a fusion classic featuring Michael Brecker, John Scofield, Paul Desmond and some unforgettable performances by drummer Tony Williams.

When Chet Baker returned to the United States in 1964 after a lengthy soujourn in Europe, fans and critics alike found new strength and maturity in his playing. He had always been a sensitive musician with a warmly lyrical personality; now, the lyricism was still there, but with it there was sinew and muscle that might have been missed before. At the marathon session which produced this as well as three previous Prestige Chef Baker albums; Smokin’, Groovin’ and Comin’ On, he was in fine fettle. His front-line companion, George Coleman, is also a very melodic player, and they are well matched. And the rhythm section leaves nothing to be desired in terms of support and togetherness…

Craft Recordings is pleased to announce the release of Chet Baker’s The Legendary Riverside Albums. The deluxe album set presents the artist’s output as a leader for the renowned jazz label, recorded and released between 1958 and 1959: (Chet Baker Sings) It Could Happen To You, Chet Baker In New York, Chet and Chet Baker Plays The Best Of Lerner And Loewe. The recordings, which feature such icons as Bill Evans, Johnny Griffin and Kenny Burrell, have been cut from their original analog master tapes by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio.

Chet Baker - Live at Nick's (1978) {Criss Cross Jazz, Criss 1027CD rel 1989}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 387 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 165 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 11 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1978, 1989 Criss Cross Jazz | Criss 1027 CD
Jazz / Cool / West Coast Jazz / Trumpet

Recorded for Dutch radio, this is one of Chet Baker best live recordings. Live At Nick's is a very fine set, extermely well modulated, one of mere handful of albums from the last two decades of Chet's career that have to be considered essential.

Sophisticated Lady (1962). "Sophisticated" is the right word to describe Julie London's cool vocal approach; it can be shoved into the background, but if you listen closely there's a lot of turmoil going on under its seemingly calm surface. Similar to Chet Baker's unruffled way with a lyric, London's self-described "thimble full of a voice" ends up describing how pain hasn't quite iced over all her emotions rather than proving how unfeeling she is. Also like Baker, so many of her best recordings are steeped in the style and mood of laid-back West Coast jazz. Sophisticated Lady is one of a string of records London cut in the early '60s with less of a jazz feel than most of her sessions from the '50s, but it's still a worthy album. If it's not exactly an essential session, it is a good one, and the backing orchestra is to blame for the album's shortcomings - not the vocalist…