Chet Blue Room

Blue Room: The 1979 VARA Studio Sessions in Holland features two previously unissued lost studio sessions of trumpet/vocal icon Chet Baker captured in glorious stereo at the legendary VARA studio 2 in Hilversum, the Netherlands for the KRO radio program Nine O’Clock Jazz. The April 10, 1979 session features pianist Phil Markowitz, bassist Jean-Louis Rassinfosse, and drummer Charles Rice; and the November 9th session features pianist Frans Elsen, bassist Victor Kaihatu, and drummer Eric Ineke. Both sessions were originally produced by Edwin Rutten and Lex Lammen for KRO-NCRV, and are now being produced for release officially for the first time by “jazz detective” Zev Feldman and Frank Jochemsen. Transferred from the original KRO radio tape reels.

This collection compiles, for the first time ever on a single set, all existing studio recordings of Chet Baker singing from 1953 (his earliest vocal recordings) until 1962.
The music on this CD puts Chet Baker on the scene not just as a brilliant trumpeter, but also as a talented singer. These songs were a revelation at the time and won Baker new fame and a new audience, which was less familiar with jazz than with pop music. The reasons are quite clear: Chet's voice is tender and beautiful, and at the same time his phrasing always swings and surprises. Among the contents of this set are the complete original albums Chet Baker Sings and Chet Baker Sings It Could Happen to You, plus all other existing studio vocal sides within that period.

One of the numerous Chet Baker recordings that appeared for the first time following his mysterious death in 1988, this release was taped the day after his long unavailable Broken Wing (last available on Inner City). Primarily a set of standards, the quartet (with pianist Phil Markowitz, bassist Jean-Luis Rasinfosse, and drummer Jeff Brillinger) starts with "Two a Day," a brisk but brief original blues by the leader. Baker is at his lyrical best as a trumpeter on the foot patting take of "If I Should Lose You," while his hushed vocals prove effective during an otherwise rather long "This Is Always." Markowitz is an especially sensitive accompanist through this studio session. With well over 40 dates as a leader by Chet Baker recorded between 1970 and the end of his life (with more to appear for the first time, no doubt), this release may not be an early priority for the typical fan of cool jazz, but serious jazz collectors will want to acquire it.

Pianist and vocalist Eliane Elias pays tribute to legendary jazz trumpeter/vocalist Chet Baker on her 2013 album I Thought About You. Featuring a selection of standards strongly associated with Baker, Elias mixes her native Brazilian bossa nova with swing, straight-ahead jazz, and even a few bluesy flourishes with much aplomb. Joining Elias are guitarists Steve Cardenas and Oscar Castro-Neves, bassist Marc Johnson, drummers Victor Lewis and Rafael Barata, and percussionist Marivaldo Dos Santos. Also adding more than a few moments of deft and thoughtful improvisation is Elias' former husband, trumpeter Randy Brecker.

Chet Baker Trio - The Touch of Your Lips (1979) {SteepleChase SCCD 31122 rel 1989}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 172 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 111 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 49 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1979, 1989 SteepleChase ProductionsApS | SCCD 31122
Jazz / Cool / West Coast Jazz / Standards / Trumpet

This was the perfect setting during his later years. The trumpeter (who also sings on two of the six songs) sounds very relaxed and comfortable while accompanied by the duo of guitarist Doug Raney and bassist Niels Pedersen, taking some consistently lyrical solos on the six standards.