Chet Baker Jazz in Paris

Chet Baker recorded many albums in Europe during his final decade. This LP matches his trumpet with pianist Phil Markowitz, bassist Jean-Francois Jenny Clark and drummer Jeff Brillinger for a date in Paris. Chet sings on "Oh You Crazy Moon" and stretches out on trumpet during a fresh repertoire that includes "Broken Wing," Wayne Shorter's "Black Eyes," "How Deep Is the Ocean?" and Baker's own "Blue Gilles." Even with his chaotic lifestyle, most of Chet Baker's recordings are worth acquiring and Broken Wing is better than average.

This album is somewhat unique in that it was recorded just a few days after his pianist Dick Twardzik died of a heroin overdose while in Paris. According to Chet, this event lead to him "seeing what heroin was all about" and it became an instant and lifelong companion for him. Because Twardzik was not able to play, they had to come up with some basic "standards" that Chet normally didn't play that often, so that there new sit-in pianist could keep up. In this case, you here some really wonderful versions of songs that Chet rarely ever played, like Summertime, Tenderly, Autumn in New York, etc, which are all marvelous.

Chet Baker was a primary exponent of the West Coast school of cool jazz in the early and mid-'50s. As a trumpeter, he had a generally restrained, intimate playing style and he attracted attention beyond jazz for his photogenic looks and singing.

Recorded live in Paris, November 24, 1983. "Barbados" recorded in Belgium, November 25, 1983.
Chet Baker was a primary exponent of the West Coast school of cool jazz in the early and mid-'50s. As a trumpeter, he had a generally restrained, intimate playing style and he attracted attention beyond jazz for his photogenic looks and singing.