Customer Reviews

Baby Breeze

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In interviews as late as 1987 Chet listed this album as one of his favourites, and who would doubt his judgment? I think it's his best album from the sixties, a perfect showcase for Chet's varied talents. Whether you like the fleet player of fast bop (or post-bop, as is the case here), the lyrical trumpeter or the sensitive balladeer, it's all here. The uptempo tunes sound very "sixties" and modern and Chet's lines are firm, hard-driven and edgy, but he never loses his human touch. As a vocalist Chet has never sounded better. He sings with fire, conviction and at times almost unbearable tenderness - "You're mine, you" and "The touch of your lips" send chills up your spine - and his rendition of Mel Tormé's "Born to be blue" is impressive and, indeed, bluesy. Anyone who claims that Chet isn't a singer should listen to these cuts. This American comeback album has long unduly been overlooked, but it is a very strong statement from this poignant trumpeter and singer. If you love Chet you should buy this one; you can't go wrong with it.

This album is SO perfect because it's NOT perfect. There is a little emotional weariness in Chet's voice, and there are times when you can hear a bit of a struggle with his flugelhorn (his trumpet was stolen before he recorded this album.) But that is what gives this album such a human quality, you can truly hear the sadness in Chet's voice when he sings "Born to Be Blue" - as though the song is about him. His playing is usually phenomenal, but you can hear a bit of a struggle on his usually so perfectly executed ballad solos, and there is such beauty to it. I love this album because it has such a wonderful human quality - there is so much emotion in Chet's voice and playing, that you can almost feel with him. Definitely buy this CD if you like Chet, or even if you just want a great jazz CD to add to your collection.

After years in Europe, Baker returned to the West Coast to record "Baby Breeze". His trumpet was stolen just before sessions began, so he played a fugelhorn, which served to make his already langorous and lush leads warmer and smoother. After a few years of drug addiction and the resulting obscurity, Baker came back strong with this collection, which encapsulates all three of his major personas: The sweetest trumpet blower around, a singer whose voice was high and lonesome and muscular all at once, and the harder bop-oriented musician that many people don't remember. A great album from a great jazzman.

This was the first studio album Chet Baker cut after a lengthy stay in Italy (5 years), made in January 1965. He returned to the States with a new style (and a new axe - flugelhorn), playing "harsher" (his words) than ever before. He was also tackling new material, very advanced and creative. This is evident throughout this CD as he works his way (effortlessly, by the way) through a couple of Hal Galper compositions that are pretty complicated and sophisticated. BABY BREEZE has a blues march feel to it, and Chet's solo is melodic and strong. THIS IS THE THING is taken up and it's HOT, especially Frank Strozier's alto solo. Another Galper tune is PAMELA'S PASSION, also taken up, which goes out of tempo on occasion and thus produces excellent tension. Richard Carpenter contributed two tunes, the best being COMIN' DOWN, which sounds very much like Coltrane's GIANT STEPS. Baker sings on a few tunes, which is okay but no great shakes; on one of them (BORN TO BE BLUE) the focus for the listener is definitely on Bobby Scott's incredibly bluesy piano accompaniment. This is a solid album for Baker, offering up an exciting change and a deeper involvement. Nice!

Its a great album with great tunes that you will be singing all day long! A must have for Chet Baker and cool jazz fans. My favorites tracks are Baby Breeze, Born to be Blue and Everything Depends on You. The last track includes different takes of some of the album songs, some kind of "backstage" versions where you can hear people talking about the recording, etc, really really cool.

Of the dozen Chet Baker CDs that I own, "Baby Breeze" stands out as the most poignant, intimate and resonant--deeply romantic but never cocktail lounge saccharine. Overall, it has the depth of feeling and richness of melody lacking in some of Chet's earlier, breezier albums. It is definitely a reflection of a more mature singer, musician and human being. His renditions of "A Taste of Honey" and "The Touch of Your Lips" are particularly haunting. I could listen to these two tracks for hours--in my solitude.