| Title: Baby
Breeze |
| Label:VERVE
538328 |
| Original issue:Limelight
82003 |
| Number of Tunes: 15 |
| MD Recording
Date(s):January 14,20 1964,February 20 (recording
date also given as Nov 14,64 |
Personnel:Chet
Baker(flh)Phil Urso(ts)Hal Galper(p)Frank Srozier(as)Michael Fleming
(b)Charlie Rice (d) January 14,1965
Chet Baker((tp)Kenny Burrell(g)Bobby Scott(p)January 20,1965
Chet Baker(flh)Bob James(p)Michael Fleming (b)Charlie Rice (d)February
20,1965 |
|
Review:After
a five year European sojourn (including time in an Italian jail) cool jazz
trumpeter Chet Baker returned to the States in good form to record this
unusual date for the Limelight label in 1964. For starters, he was playing
flugelhorn, an instrument he'd recently acquired to replace a stolen
trumpet in France. Secondly, the date was produced by Bobby Scott, the
English composer of "A Taste Of Honey," included here as a bonus track.
Baker sings the folk-like melody with conviction, accompanied only by
Scott himself on piano. In fact, Baker's plaintive vocals on this tune and
others like Mel Torme's "Born To be Blue" and Ray Noble's "The Touch Of
Your Lips" represent his best singing on record in a decade.The session is
smartly divided between these minimally accompanied vocals--the
understated guitarist Kenny Burrell makes a welcome appearance on
some--and straight-ahead instrumentals with full combo including the fine
altoist Frank Strozier. The rich-toned flugelhorn suits Baker's
characteristic lyricism and he negotiates pianist Hal Galper's originals
with aplomb. |
|
