Italian Sessions

Chet Baker | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 15, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B000003G56
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #234,748 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptionally focused and commanding trumpet playing, May 9, 2001

By 

Michael Laprarie (Oklahoma City, OK USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Italian Sessions (Audio CD)

The 1960's are often considered the low point of Chet Baker's rocky career, but this album recorded in 1962 is undoubtedly one of the finest efforts of his early playing. Baker is aided and abetted by American tenorman and flutist Bobby Jaspar and propelled by the exhuberant Daniel Humair, Europe's answer to the sensational hard bop drummer Philly Joe Jones.

Although Chet is primarily known as an interpreter of wispy ballads and standards, he stands out on this set as an advanced, aggressive be-bop improviser. His playing on the Thelonious Monk classic "Well, You Needn't" and high-speed romp through "Pent-Up House" are two of the best versions of these tunes ever recorded, and he excels on Charlie Parker's "Barbados". Also worth mentioning is "Blues In The Closet", unusual in the sense that Chet did not record many good interpretations of tunes based on blues changes.

Although there is no singing here, Chet's unusually focused command and skilled playing make this album a must-have for fans of Chet's trumpet playing. If you are a traditional be-bop/hard bop fan who has never approached Chet Baker, give this album a try.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chet Baker, Horns In, August 9, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Italian Sessions (Audio CD)

I imagine if you're reading these reviews that you are familiar with Chet Baker's music. I got into listening to him after seeing the flick "Let's Get Lost", a biography of his life and how drug use brought him down. It's not a flattering film, but it is honest. I'm glad to have a cd of him just playing his trumpet without singing. His soft, warm voice, is excellent for setting a romantic mood. The "Italian Sessions" however, is more for attentive listening. It shows he could have done straight bop had he chosen to. This is a great cd, and it deserves to be included in anyone's jazz collection.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Italian Sessions, October 25, 2000

By 

Bob Schlump (WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Italian Sessions (Audio CD)

I've owned half a dozen Chet Baker CD's and half of them were poorly recorded or the performances were mediocre. This album, however, is absolutely awesome. I've owned it for a couple of years and it is all scratched up but I still listen to it often. Chet is in top form here and the sound quality as well as the musicianship has to be the best I've ever heard. The strength of material wanes a bit after track 5 but this is still remarkable stuff. There is no singing on this album for those of you looking for a vocal CD (try My Funny Valentine-it's great). His tone is so powerful on this CD and really pries at something inside -- a great recording and a fantastic CD. You can't go wrong here.