Chet Baker (trumpet); Wolfgang Lackerschmid (vibes).
Without being drawn into the merits of vinyl over CD (and vice versa) I always feel there is something special about a vinyl album, especially the present day output such as this one by Dot Time Records and mastered by Gearbox Records, UK.
Of course, the artwork, the sleeve notes, and the production come to naught if the artists don't deliver.
Chet and Wolfgang deliver!
Originally recorded in 1979 at a studio in Stuttgart, this is as emotive an album as I've heard in many a year. Chet's plaintive trumpet pays homage to the adage that less is more. Not a note out of place, each one tearing your heart out. The German's vibes the perfect cushion, laying it down as support, in solo or offering contrapuntal choices.
Blue Bossa bears only a fragmentary resemblance to the swashbuckling version so popular at jam sessions and yet loses nothing by comparision. Softly as in a Morning Sunrise, another favourite with jammers, brings to mind MJQ. Wolfgang is heavily featured with Chet muted. Waltz For Susan is quite delightful. The notes don't indicate who Susan is - doesn't sound Germanic even though Wolfgang composed the piece - if she's as beautiful as the tune then she is/was a stunner!
There are two versions of Why Shouldn't You Cry (no question mark!) - one muted, one open horn. I prefer the latter, tomorrow it might be the former.
Wolfgand recalls starting to write down the chords for Chet who interrupted saying, "I don't need no changes - I got the melody".
A welcome addition to the legendary duos of jazz history.
Lance.
Blue Bossa: Five Years Ago; Why Shouldn't You Cry; You Don't Know What Love is; Softly as in a Morning Sunrise; Waltz For Susan; Double O; Why Shouldn't You Cry? (muted version).
Available August 10 on Dot Time Records DT8556.
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