Margarine

Chet Baker - The Improviser (1983) {Cadence CJR 1019 rel 1995}
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© 1983, 1995 Cadence Jazz Records | CJR 1019
Jazz / Cool / West Coast Jazz / Trumpet

Baker recorded this Cadence LP in Norway, backed by a pair of fine Norweigan trios that in both cases include pianist Per Husby. In addition to Sam Rivers's "Beatrice" (a song that the trumpeter recorded numerous times) and the standard "Polka Dots and Moonbeams," this fine set includes interpretations of two Hal Galper songs ("Margarine" and "Night Bird") and Tadd Dameron's lesser-known "Gnid." Although a little loose in spots, this is an excellent date by the colorful trumpeter.

Chet Baker - The Sesjun Radio Shows (2010) {2CD Set, Beeld En Geluid PRCD2010091 rec 1976-1985}
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© 1976-85, 2010 Beeld En Geluid / T2 Entertainment | PRCD 2010091
Jazz / Cool / West Coast Jazz / Trumpet

Chet Baker was often not at his best in later years, taking nearly every live gig or recording date regardless of whether he was physically and mentally up to it (due to his longtime drug habit) or the musicians were truly compatible. Happily, Baker is in top form during these live broadcasts from the Sesjun radio shows (which aired from 1973 to 2004) in The Netherlands. The first four songs feature Baker with his regular pianist Harold Danko, bassist Cameron Brown, and flutist Jacques Pelzer. The breezy rendition of "There Will Never Be Another You" comes across effortlessly, with fine solos all around and the leader offering a strong vocal and intricate trumpet in the ensembles.

Donovan's last truly great album of the 1960s, 1968's BARABAJAGAL shows interesting artistic growth at least as marked as his transformation from folk troubadour to daffy hippie-pop guru. The title track and "Trudi" feature the Rod Stewart-era Jeff Beck Group as Donovan's backing band; consequently both these songs have a surprising amount of sonic heft to them…