Chet Baker Strollin

While there are numerous collections of trumpeter/vocalist Chet Baker's work, none have attempted to cover his entire career. Using Baker's classic 1952 recording of "My Funny Valentine" and the version recorded a month before his death off The Last Great Concert as melancholy bookends, Shout Factory has put together a solid anthology of the iconic artist's recordings.

For six evenings, from 28th March to 2nd April 1983, the John Horler Trio rhythm section supported the legendary trumpet player Chet Baker at The Canteen in London. For those who were fortunate enough to be there, these were magical shows. The rhythm section was tight and Chet was at the top of his game. The best of the six hours of music is presented here on 'Live in London Volume II' and has been restored and remastered to the highest quality.Jim Richardson, Chet's bassist, asked him if he could record the shows for his personal enjoyment. Chet was only too happy to agree, and Jim managed to capture most of the performances on a SONY TCS 300 audiocassette recorder.

This 1983 studio date, titled Crystal Bells here yet previously released under other titles, features trumpet Chet Baker performing within a trio setting with the Belgian duo of guitarist Philip Catherine and bassist Jean-Louis Rassinfosse. Although famously known as an intuitive musician who played by ear, by the '80s Baker's improvisation had coalesced into a beautifully logical, root harmony-based style in which one can discern the exact progressions of any given tune simply by listening to him.

This hard-to-find CD gives us Chet in good shape, in good spirits, and with excellent sidemen. You know you're in for a treat, when you hear the opening lines of "Crystal Bells" with Baker's sweet lines floating above Catherine's ringing guitar. After swinging pretty on "Strollin'", Chet delivers one of his best performances of the J.J. Johnson standard, "Lament". Chet turns this sad tune into one of hope and happiness as his horn flutters through the melody, but still keeping the same traditional slow tempo…

"Leaving" is usually a tune that leaves me cold, it doesn't have a memorable melody. However, Chet punches it up here, with a strong, staccato opening, eventually moving to long, brisk solos. He wraps up this set with a soft and fast "Cherokee" and ending with "Estate". This last tune is a great fit for Chet. I wish he had included it in his repertoire more often. Those long, low notes that open the tune just seem to be meant for him. ~ Chetbakertribute.com

The quality of Chet Baker's product was so varied during the last decade or more of his life that recording sessions varied markedly. For this "remixed version" of Mr. B Baker sounds a tad tired, though his chops are in fine form. The studio recording captures the trumpeter with highly sympathetic and self-effacing pianist Michel Grallier and bassist Ricardo Del Fra, both of whom engage in the leader's brand of sensitivity. There are no vocals by the trumpeter, but plenty of improvising. The interesting tune selection features a few songs played often by Baker (such as Wayne Shorter's "Dolphin Dance" and Horace Silver's "Strollin'"), but several that are not associated with him at all (Grallier's "White Blues" and his gorgeous "Father X-mas," to name a couple). There is a sadness permeating the trumpeter's sound throughout, exacerbated by the lazy, sometimes sluggish, tempos. A deep and touching beauty can be felt, marking this as one of Chet's best from the period.

A compulsory exercise in the careers of the greatest, instrumentals, together with brilliant improvisations based on catchy themes, have always had pride of place in rock history. This anthology retraces the different facets of their roots and evolution, from jazz and country music to the kind of rock where electric guitars play a central role. From boogie woogie to western swing, and from rhythm and blues to soul music, radio jingles, film music and surf-rock, the earliest instrumental rock classics are compiled here with the detailed comments of Bruno Blum, himself a guitarist and rockspecialist.

Scorching licks, slide tricks and seductive picks. Three discs packed with 75 original recordings which helped to establish the guitar as lead instrument in Rock 'n' Roll and Blues.