Customer Reviews

Chet: Keepnews Collection

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is the most satisfying and, in many respects, most representative Chet Baker I've come across. No vocals, nothing even approaching bebop. It's truly bicoastal and genre-resistant music. Moreover, it doesn't have the sponginess of some later Baker sessions with electronic synths and reverb assists. These are beautiful deconstructions of familiar pieces, each slowed to a tempo-less, non-insistent, seductively langorous meditation--a sigh, a whisper, a breath of spring (and autumn).

The presence of Pepper Adams' slightly abrasive baritone is just enough seasoning to keep it interesting. The tastefulness of Miles Davis' rhythm section (Bill Evans, Chambers and Philly Joe) is, on this date, merely more testimony to Miles' good instincts when it came to picking players.

We are living in a milieu that, if not apathetic, is positively hostile to the ballad. Even the paragons of the form--Sinatra's "concept albums"--are languishing in a world in which human beings fly about like like carrier pigeons with iPod buds in their ears. If that's your world, you won't want to have anything to do with Chet's--or the exquisite music on this album.

CHET (Original Album Remastered) is absolutely first rate. Great tunes (Alone Together, 'Tis Autumn, It Never Entered My Mind, Time On My Hands, If You Could See Me Now (by Tad Dameron) to name just a few). Great lineup of musicians (Pepper Adams-Bari.Sax, Herbbie Mann-Flute, Bill Evans-Piano, Paul Chambers-Bass, Connie Kay & Philly Joe Jones-Drums and at the very still center of it is - Chet Baker. All instrumentals, no vocals. I'm a fan of Mr. Baker's playing and singing. To me, his music demonstrates that, quite simply put - music is about one thing and one thing only - BEAUTY. I believe that to be the at the very heart and soul of his music. Another reviewer sums up the beauty of this album as - " Masterful Minimalism." Absolutely! There is a relaxed, spare and intimate grace to the music on this album that is for some reason rare in Jazz. On recordings, but not only. Most Jazz in clubs and on radio I find to be busy, aggressive, in your face. More than not its raucous, loud, and all too often not about the music but about noticing those who are playing the music, and their chops. And because of that, its uninvolving. This c.d. is a reminder of what counts most. It demonstrates a taste and economy that glistens throughout. Another name for that particular quality is Chet Baker. His magic infuses all the musicians on this album with a gold dust that Bill Evans also always had. And in this instance it tempers the the Sax of Mr. Adams. To sum it up - this is an album that can best be described in one word: BEAUTY. Highly recommended.

Chet Baker has become one of my favorite trumpeters. His trumpet playing is lyrical, but on many other albums he has proven himself a quite capable technician on his instrument. Anyone who doubts his technical ability should check out his quartets with saxophonist Gerry Mulligan and pianist Russ Freeman. He was a master of playing playing, which is what this 1959 recording consists of. Every single track is rendered beautifully by the space given in Chet's lines. Chet is joined by some of the best jazz musicians at that time: Bill Evans, Pepper Adams, Kenny Burrell, Herbie Mann, Paul Chambers, Connie Kay, and Philly Joe Jones. Anyone looking for some swing will have to look elsewhere. This album is nothing but ballads. I highly recommend this recording to anyone who is a potential fan of Chet's and for anyone interested in collecting Bill Evans session work, which he didn't do much of at all during his career.

Absolute perfection. Although I love Chet's vocals on other albums, the pure sound of his horn will more than suffice anytime, but especially on this disc. "It Never Entered My Mind" can bring me to tears. The one downer is a now old and sour producer Orin Keepnews's bitter bitchy updated liner notes. What a pill! I highly recommend this album, Keepnews's crankiness not withstanding.

One of the most sensual Jazz Albums ever made, Chet by Chet Baker is simply divine. The cover says it all. Romantic, sophisticated and melancholy, Chet's velvet trumpet sounds make this an intoxicating dreamy soundscape. Simply a refined resonance of a more delicate mood, it's perfect for those occasions when you don't want a brash obtrusive soundscape. The first tune - Alone Together, seduces you to listen intently, yet in an exquisite way, sets the ambience for this whole CD. How High The Moon is upbeat, toe tapping and if I knew the words, I would gladly sing along, but love to hum along instead. It Never Entered My Mind and September Song are meshed with the fine elements of Bill Evans masterful piano along with Connie Kay & Philly Joe Jones slow, almost erotic tempo on drums, making these songs some of my favorites. Early Morning Mood ends off with an effervescent melody that almost says: "thanks for coming/listening, hope you enjoyed your stay."

Close your eyes and imagine a bygone era - where men wore classic fedoras, women looked elegant in elbow length gloves and a Martini was about the sexiest drink you could order. Close your eyes and imagine a dark smoke filled nightclub with velvet upholstered chairs, bartenders who would call you Sir or Madame, and see Chet and his band up on stage underneath the glow of a few spotlights. This is the soundtrack to that dream.

This is a super album.I got several Baker albums at the same time and this always finds its way to the top of the pile for the next play of Chet's music.

I'm surprised more Chet fans did not pitch in with their comments. This is not some obscure album from one of the greatest American Jazz artists of the 20th century.
It was my first Chet Baker CD and I have treasured it along with few others that I don't mind taking it to Mars or similar places. This CD's effect can be extremely relaxing, contemplative and almost hypnotic. Bill Evans is another good reason to buy this product. I don't have the "remastered" version and I am curious about it's quality - how much lost and how much gained. The sound quality of the original is not too shabby, probably a conservative B+ with an easy A for content / performance.

If I may, what I like about Chet's style of playing is as follows;

Trumpet can be a very offensive instrument - it can bleed the ears. Chet had an extraordinary aptitude for lyrics & melody that he communicated through the instrument. He had 'soft power' - whenever he needed it - otherwise he was cool, reflective and always musical. I read some of the negatives written about his personal problems which keeps tabloid journalists in business and gossip junkies happy but as an audience we should be free to evaluate his work not his personality, life-style or morals. He communicated through his instrument and that's what I'm interested in.

Chet Baker's "Chet" album is at the top of my favorites list, which I give five-stars. HOWEVER, that applies to the clean, lovely 1987 mix on CD and the recent LP reissue, NOT to this poorly-engineered 2007 24-bit remastering by Joe Tarantino of Fantasy Records, Berkeley. Sadly, this "demastering" ruined the album with a ludicrously overblown bass boost. On both of my two music systems (hi-end and well-tuned) this remix inflicts boomy headbanger bass onto what previously was a gloriously balanced jazz performance. Avoid this issue and look for the properly-engineered 1987 release; you'll be rewarded with some of Chet's remarkable jazz ballads from his peak years.