Customer Reviews

Last Great Concert: My Favorite Songs 1 & 2 (Dig)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Greetings to all.

Chet Baker died two weeks after this Last Great Concert was performed. Sad, really; made even sadder when you listen to MY FUNNY VALENTINE. If this tune (as played here) doesn't bring tears to your eyes, then I imagine that nothing could. Heart wrenching--that's what this tune is. Mr. Peck (reviewer below) was so perfect in his description, that there is not much more I can add, except to say that, indeed, the orchestra and strings on MY FUNNY VALENTINE seem to be soothing and bathing Chet in some kind of morbid, yet beautiful honor. A tribute to one great jazz player, without doubt.

I have loved Chet's work for many years, and, out of the many albums/cd's I own by Chet, this recording is my favorite.

All of the songs here are performed impeccably. Chet's trumpeting is exceptional, given his frail condition. His vocals are moving. I especially love the vocal/trumpet combination on I FALL IN LOVE TOO EASILY.

Looking at pictures of Chet when this album was recorded is emotionally difficult. Once dubbed the so-called jazz playboy, for his handsome appearance, one can see how life treated Chet, and how he treated life.

Sometimes we all have to experience things, whether self-inflicted or not, that allow us to be the person we know we were intended to be. I know this is true of many artists, and it certainly was true with Chet.

I have been blessed to listen to Chet's music, and I hope this recording moves you as much as it moves me.

I highly recommend this wonderful album. You won't be disappointed.

Thanks for taking the time to read my review.

Rock On, Kids,
Dr. Of Style

I've been a Chet Baker fan for over 45 years and think of no better tribute than this album.

Usually live albums are mediocre quality at best, but this one couldn't have been better if done in a studio. And there's no way to describe the way string section sounds when cut live as compared to studio overdubs. Everybody has to be at their best and they certainly were during these performances.

Having loved Miles Davis's "All Blues", the thought of someone else (even Chet) recording it bordered on heresy, but that was the cut that drew me to the album originally after hearing it played on the local PBS station. I gulped and paid the price expecting the rest of the album to be "throw-aways". Wrong!! Every cut is great in it's own way. "My Funny Valentine" is almost gut-wrenching compared to the original and shows the toll years of substance abuse took on Chet, but the strings knock the edges off and make it a truly memorable perfomance.

I don't think you'll be disappointed if you cared for Mr. Baker's performances

Since this is Chet's last recorded work, there is an emotional element about listening to this CD. So for historical pruposes, this is an amazing recording. With regard to the quality, his trumpet playing is in top form; however his vocals are a bit weak. However, I'm not much of a fun of the big backing band here -- I prefer to hear Chet in a more scaled downed setting -- such as a small quartet or quintet. Therefore, I'll mark this down to a 4. If you like the larger backing band this is a must have; otherwise, just a nice addition to your Chet Baker collection.

I've always been a fan of Chet Baker's trumpet playing and his singing, but never took the trouble to analyze his lines until this album. His solos are like perfect modern sculptures in that they don't waste notes, space, or form. Nothing is superfluous. His 2 choruses of improvisation on All Blues and on In Your Own Sweet Way show the genius of his discipline. His attack is a little more "boppish" than Miles, but he uses spaces as brilliantly. I didn't realize just how magnificent he was as an instrumentalist until transcribing some of his lines on this recording. Wow. I also wondered how someone as dissolute and unhealthy as Chet Baker must have been, could have the strength and breath control to play those lines with so much fluidity and strength. He sustained a few languid tones and played some long-winded phrases with lots of notes over several bars. Imagine what he would have sounded like if he actually took good care of himself. His skills were under-rated. For my money, Frank Sinatra in a lifetime of Sundays couldn't sound one tenth as hip as Chet. Mel Torme might be another story. Great album with phenomenal solos.

Simple presentation. Good sound.
Fabulous inspiration in this concert !
If you want to know the most inspiring part of the life then you must have this one.

If we only knew that this now-historic date would be the last stop in a short and often troubled life of Chet Baker....

The setting for this recording is truly brilliant. Chet is accompanied by an 18 piece big band as well as a 43 piece symphony orchestra. Together, a unique musical experience is formed as the NDR big band is accented by the soft and almost whimsical sound of the string section. Additionally, the musical styling of John Schroder's guitar adds layers of depth and punctuation to an already tight rhythm section.

This recording has all the makings for greatness. This set includes jazz greats like All Blues, Summertime, Tenderly, and In Your Own Sweet Way. Chet reminds us of the voice that we all fell in love with during a heartfelt homage to days past with My Funny Valentine. Even through the false teeth and rough exterior, Chet exposes his tender soul with each word.

The fuzzy sound of his trumpet can be heard on the back-end of the beat while Chet's solos are simple in nature, they become wildly complex as he effortlessly weaves in and out of the changes.

Chet provides a taste of his prototypical West-Coast sound in Monk's classic, "Well You Needn't" as he dances with the NDR big band in a rather exciting musical exchange.

I do believe this CD belongs in the company of other great jazz recordings. It certainly would be a welcomed addition to any collection.

Special recognition is in order of Executive Producer, Matthias Winckelmann for bringing such a fine recording to the masses.

I was there, that night, and I have to admit that it was magic, indeed. Chet Baker was late, as usual, and when he came in his old Renault, trumpet in hand, he looked harassed and worn out. It was lingering near the stage entrance then and was shocked when I saw him. Troubled, I took my seat and expected a horrific evening by a once-great trumpet player who now looked like his ghost. I was told that he had not shown up for rehearsals, and his preparation with the NDR Big Band and his other accompanists apparently lasted only a minimum amount of time.
Then the musicians of the big band appeared on stage, Walter Norris, the pianist, sat down at his instrument and played the first chords of All Blues. Then Chet Baker finally appeared on stage and after a brief moment of preparation he played his first solo and I sat there dumbfounded. I was amazed at the lyrical power of his playing. The man was so much transformed when playing that I could not really identify him with the forlorn person who had entered the building perviously.
My Favourite Songs 1 & 2 give you the last concert in its entirety, and I must say that I have forgotten little of what happened 20 years ago. Every moment of that concert was memorable, and I was delighted when it came out on CD. So, whether you are new to the Chet Baker phenomenon or if you are an old fan, this is something to cherish. Go and get this recording of the last tunes one of jazz's greatest trumpet player ever played. To me it is worth six stars, just for the memory of it.

This is the most consistently listenable Chet Baker album that I've heard, and I have several. I knew that Baker was still able to perform in the last years of his life (I've seen the 1988 documentary about him, "Let's Get Lost"), but I was stunned by how good he is in this, his last recorded concert. (He died two weeks after this 1988 live show, which was recorded in Germany.) His skill and maturity as an artist (Chet was never mature as a person) are on display. For example, his fifties version of "I Get Along Without You Very Well" seemed mannered and somewhat precious and is hard for me to listen to, but here it is one of my favorite songs on the album. How did he do that? If you know to listen for it (now that I've told you) you might very occassionally notice that he sings like a man wearing dentures (which he did wear), but most of the time it is the same boyish voice of his youth only now with just the right tinge of world-weariness. The theme of the concert is "My Favorite Songs." Chet even blows and sings "My Funny Valentine" a second time for his encore without wearing out the oft-played tune's welcome. (Again, how did he do that?) Chet probably plays the trumpet a bit more than he sings on this one. There are great extended instrumentals of "Summertime" and other standards. It's amazing how he can play one tune sweetly slow and the next one nimbly fast. My main criticism of this beautifully produced concert album is directed toward the backing by a lush orchestra, which makes the album sound overproduced at times, but there are also good jazz performances by side men on piano, guitar and wind instruments. (Sorry, I'm too lazy to look up who they are.)

This is a great album. Can be very depressing to listen to though. His rendition of My Funny Valentine is nothing short of a masterpiece. Although he was messed up on drugs, his trumpet playing never suffered. Buy this cd if youre a true fan.

I'm a big Chet Baker fan and for some reason I never purchased this recording until recently although I had heard from many sources including friends that told me it was very good. Chet really is in top form on this CD and it is too bad he died 2 weeks later. It is a different format than Chet was normally involved in. The big band and the orchestra are fantastic and the arragenments are excellent. Chet's playing is very good with his tone and ideas really good. His singing is pretty good as well. The guy was just a great muscian, it's too bad his personal life was such a mess. Over all I couldn't reccomend this CD more. If you are a jazz fan and/or a Chet Baker fan this 2 CD set is a must.