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I'm completely ignorant of his body of work. And he recorded so much stuff! Which album of his should I listen to first?
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12-16-2019 12:23 PM
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My favourite:
Chet Baker - The Touch of Your Lips
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Originally Posted by Howzabopping
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Gosh, where to start?
I really love the record wengr just mentioned, and pretty much anything Chet released with his European crews in the 70's/80's...the trios with Doug Raney, ANYTHING with Philip Catherine (try Chet's Choice)
For older Chet, the record "Chet" (which features a bit of a jazz supergroup of sorts) is a great starting place.
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”Chet Baker Sings” and ”She Was Too Good To Me” are great albums.
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Playboys with Art Pepper is one that I like.
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One of my favorites is "Chet Baker, My Favorite Songs-the last great concert". Recorded in Europe, I believe, with a big band. It's a gorgeous sounding album and there is some fine guitar work as well.
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Originally Posted by Gilpy
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Originally Posted by wengr
For those who like ballads, I also recommend the fully instrumental album "Chet" released in 1959: Chet (Chet Baker album) - Wikipedia
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Originally Posted by jfcx
Diane is an excellent lp as are most on Steeplechase
For an all instrumental lp try "Chet Is Back" w/Bobby Jaspar, Rene Thomas, Amadeo Tomassi, Benoit Quersin and Daniel Humair, he's really at the top of his game as are the sidemen.
Here's a sample...
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Originally Posted by wintermoon
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Originally Posted by jameslovestal
It's been re released though and the sound quality is good.
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Originally Posted by wintermoon
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I'm a fan of his '50s vocals, though some are not. You can figure out pretty quickly using Youtube which category you fall into. His versions of "Look for the Silver Lining" and "Time After Time" are representative.
If you like his singing, the compilation "Let's Get Lost (The Best Of Chet Baker Sings)" on EMI / Pacific Jazz has the cream of the crop. All recorded from about '54-'56. The last album where he still has a youthful quality to his vocals is probably the CTI record "She Was Too Good to Me", from the early '70s. Go on Youtube, put on some headphones, and listen to him sing "She Was too Good to Me" and "What'll I Do"--see if he doesn't make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. The ultimate lush junkie ballad singing.
I like some of his later singing, but it sounds like the singing of a guy who's been through hell, a more weary (and sometimes more out of tune) version of his youthful vocals. The soundtrack to the documentary "Let's Get Lost" (BMG...not to be confused with the other album I mentioned with the same title) has some of my favorite late vocals.
His work as a member of the piano-less and all-instrumental Gerry Mulligan Quartet is part of jazz history. The bulk is on Pacific Jazz (EMI), so start there, the '53-'54 stuff. If you like it, look for the sessions on Fantasy and GNP records. He's also on a "tentette" session with Mulligan that's similar in texture to Miles and Mulligan's "Birth of the Cool" band.
The "Last Great Concert" on Enja from 1988 (a month before his death) is pretty killer, as is a similar concert with an orchestra from 9-months earlier ("The Legacy - Vol. 1"). From 1987, his "Chet Baker in Tokyo" concert (with a piano / bass / drums quartet) is well recorded and he's in pretty good form there as well.
For some straight instrumental bop blowing, he cut 5 LPs worth of tunes with Detroit pianist Kirk Lightsey and tenor player George Coleman (who had been in Miles' band the year before) in 1965 for Prestige (collected on "Stairway to the Stars" and two more CDs). The 1978 recording "Broken Wing" is another good place to hear his mainstream bop side. He even tackles a Wayne Shorter piece there.
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Another great album is Chet Baker’s session work on Jim Hall’s ”Concierto”.
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For more "wisdom of the crowds", see this Steve Hoffman forum post:
Chet Baker: where to start? | Steve Hoffman Music Forums
You'll notice certain records appearing over and over.
As for "Listen to ANYTHING he ever recorded---and treat it like the Holy Grail." ...Well, I'll raise the issue of "opportunity cost" here.
Why sit around listening to "Blood, Chet, and Tears" when you could be listening to Chet playing "My Funny Valentine" with the Gerry Mulligan quartet? You only go around once. Are your precious hours really best spent listening to all six of Chet's "Mariachi Brass" Herb Alpert knock-off albums?
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Originally Posted by wengr
Me too.
I love the sound of that album. The way it was recorded/captured is breath taking.
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Originally Posted by Howzabopping
In case you would prefer proceed not tune by tune instead a complete session, I recommend the Bill Evans sessions, btw Kenny Burrell also on it. Sorry! Something went wrong!
(nothing went wrong...)Last edited by Gabor; 12-26-2019 at 08:47 AM.
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I have been a fan of Chet since the 60's when I first became addicted to Jazz. His lyricism, inventions, phrasing, tone and musicality are second to none. In my opinion, "Live In Tokyo" is his best album because it showcases a mature artist's vision of a creative and sadly, tumultuous life of a "poete maudit" who has reached the peak of musical expression. Anyone who considers themselves a serious musician should be familiar with his work. Highly recommended. Good playing . . . Marinero
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Originally Posted by Gabor
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Pretty sure all of the early recordings are good. Once he went to Europe things got suspect but were oftentimes amazing anyway.
The movie Let's Get Lost is definitely worth watching. And the soundtrack is great. Toothless Chet is a pretty good variety of Chet.
I feel like the band on Let's Get Lost: The Best of Chet Baker Sings is not at his level, nevertheless the performances are perfect.
I don't know which recordings but definitely the stuff with Gerry Mulligan is worth checking out.
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I really love "It Could Happen To You" with Sam Jones, Philly Joe, and Kenny Drew, what a rhythm section! Songs are great too, such classics. also a ridiculous album cover that my wife and I still laugh about.
Chet has some of the most singable solos of any jazz musician.
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chet soloing...walking that tightrope...that he walked often and best
cheers
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Originally Posted by wengr
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Thanks a lot for the recommendations everybody!!! And all the best for the new year!!!
Listening to some of the YouTube videos at the moment, trying to wrap my head around Chet's style. He certainly is one of a kind!
Favorite Jazz guitarist book
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