Album review: Chet Baker - Blue Room

Chet Baker (trumpet, vocals); Phil Markowitz (piano); Jean-Louis Rassinfosse (bass); Charles Rice (drums). 

Chet Baker (trumpet, vocals); Frans Elsen (piano); Victor Kaihatu (bass); Eric Ineke (drums).

The Jazz Detective continues his investigations searching for previously undiscovered, unreleased gems and, as ever, comes up trumps with this one. Two sessions from April, 1979, by the legendary Chet Baker that have lain gathering dust in the Vara studio's vaults in Hilversum, having originally been broadcast on the Dutch KRO radio programme Nine o'Clock Jazz.

Baker is in fine form both vocally and instrumentally. Whatever demons he was facing don't show at these sessions. His laid back trumpet style and his laconic vocals are a personification of the less is more school. It's cool but it's not frigid. There's a warmth that seeps through. To express your feelings you don't need to write a sonnet, three little words - I love you - does the trick. Chet does that with each and every note he blows.

There's only one vocal on the first CD - Oh, You Crazy Moon - but it's beautiful, so full of emotion. The Best Thing For You is me is more uptempo than Chet usually prefers but if it's out of his comfort zone it doesn't show. And why should it? He chose the tunes and you don't invent a game to get beat at it. He handles the tempo with ease and without any pyrotechnics. Bravura flourishes were never a part of his armoury. 

Three tracks into the second CD we have another vocal - Candy - a tune he'd recorded in an earlier time, in a different place with a different band. This scatted version is okay but I don't think scatting is really his forté although the trumpet solo is excellent. However, if I had to pick out just one vocal it would surely be the conveniently titled My Ideal. A tune that he'd already made his own, the marriage between singer and song is well and truly consummated here.

The two rhythm sections are totally compatible with Baker. Markowitz in particular stretching out impressively.

It's been a good few days for listening. Lance

A 2 LP set will be available on Record Store Day (April 22) as well as well as a limited edition deluxe 2 CD set six days later.

Released by Elemental Music/ Jazz Detective.

Beautiful Black Eyes; Oh, You Crazy Moon; The Best Thing For You is me; Blue Room; Down.

Blue Gilles; Nardis; Candy; Luscious Lou; My Ideal; Old Devil Moon.