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Chet Baker: Blue Room: The 1979 VARA Studio Sessions In Holland
ByThese sessions were studio-recorded for the Dutch radio program Nine O'Clock Jazz, and unheard until now. They comprise two sessions. The first from April 10th features Baker with his regular pianist Phil Markowitz, Belgian bassist Jean-Louis Rassinfosse, and American drummer Charlie Rice. The second outing from November 9th finds the trumpeter with a pick-up band of Dutch musicians, pianist Frans Elsen, bassist Victor Kaihatu, and drummer Eric Ineke.
Baker's music always had a sense of fragility about it. Like the music (and life) of Billie Holiday there was a delicacy and vulnerability with his expression of sound. That sensitivity is on display in his singing and playing. The April 10th session opens with Wayne Shorter's "Beautiful Black Eyes" performed as a luscious bossa-nova. Baker's tone is tender and unblemished here and throughout. Yes, there had been and would be sessions where Baker falters. Just not here. He sets his horn aside on three tunes, giving us his delicate vocals along with irresistible scatting. A master of the unhurried pace, he takes Miles Davis' "Nardis" at a crawl, but then dashes through "The Best Thing For You" with unexpected speed. The same is true of a brisk take on "Old Devil Moon," where he seems a bit sideways with his pick-up band. Nonetheless, the playing is beyond competent and the sound captured here is outstanding.
Track Listing
CD 1:
Beautiful Black Eyes; Oh, You Crazy Moon; The Best Thing for You; Blue Room; Down.
CD 2:
Blue Gilles; Nardis; Candy; Luscious Lou; My Ideal; Old Devil Moon.
Personnel
Chet Baker
trumpet and vocalsJean-Louis Rassinfosse
bass, acousticVictor Kaihatu
bass, acousticCharlie Rice
drumsEric Ineke
drumsAlbum information
Title: Blue Room: The 1979 VARA Studio Sessions In Holland | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: Jazz Detective/Deep Digs/Elemental Music