Live In '64 & '79

構成数 : 1枚
合計収録時間 : 00:00:00
Personnel: Chet Baker (vocals, trumpet, flugelhorn); Jacques Pelzer (flute, alto saxophone); Michel Graillier, Rene Urtreger (piano); Wolfgang Lackerschmid (vibraphone); Franco Manzecchi (drums). Liner Note Authors: Phillip Galloway; David Peck; Rob Bowman. Recording information: Belgium (??/??/1964-09/03/1979); Norway (??/??/1964-09/03/1979). Author: Quincy Jones. There seems to be precious little quality multi-media footage of Chet Baker (trumpet/flugelhorn/vocals) in his prime. And while the pair of roughly half-hour sets found on Baker's Jazz Icons DVD capture him at two disparate points, neither truly present him at his absolute best. The May 2, 1964 program is from Brussels, Belgium for Jazz pour Tous. By this point in his career, Baker had been busted for drugs so often that he remained in exile throughout Europe for most of his life. The pickup band supporting him on this date are Jacques Pelzer (alto sax), Rene Urtreger (piano), Luigi Trussardi (bass), and Franco Manzecchi (drums). While the numbers are all presumably complete, the heavy-handed editing -- particularly noticeable in the frenetic overhaul of Sonny Rollins' "Airegin" -- is jarring. Perhaps because Baker was bound to the respective style and repertoire familiar to his accompanists, the song list is limited to jazz standards and Great American Songbook fodder. Fans of Baker will rightfully be frustrated by the lack of space actually dedicated to his leading the combo. The most prominent exception being the languid and lovely ballad "Time After Time." Here it takes a considerably slower pace than on his 1954 recording with Russ Freeman (piano). Baker's smooth and supple vocals and sensuous tone on the flugelhorn, however, make this nearly seven-minute version a keeper. Closing the initial batch is an appealing update of Miles Davis' modal masterpiece "So What" that finds Baker countering the traditional melody line with some interesting textures. We catch up with Baker a decade-and-a-half later in early September 1979 at the Kongsberg, Norway Jazz Festival. The drummer-free backing ensemble boasts membership by Wolfgang Lackerschmid (vibes), Michel Graillier (piano), and Jean-Louis Rassinfosse (bass). Although not his steady unit -- as Baker recorded and gigged with assorted combos in 1979 and 1980 -- they are better suited to Baker's unstructured approach. A short interview begins the September 3, 1979 show, which prophetically concludes with Baker jokingly saying he'd be happy if he "can get away with" being in jazz for another ten years. He ultimately honored that prediction, passing away in May of 1988. An all-too-brief excerpt of John Coltrane's "Blue Train" then yields into a long and winding take of "Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise" that is filled with the poignancy and lyricism that Baker is known for. Lackerschmid's "Five Years Ago" is a fun excursion, although it pales in comparison to "Love for Sale." They model the quarter-hour funky workout after the update that had graced the highly underrated You Can't Go Home Again (1977) collaborative effort that found Baker alongside the likes of Michael Brecker (sax), John Scofield (guitar), and Tony Williams (drums). The interplay on the bandstand is outstanding with an undeniable and scintillating groove from top to bottom. Overall, the audio fidelity is well above average on the 1664 and 1979 performances. Rob Bowman's essay in the 16-page liner booklet offers additional analysis on the selections, not to mention the tragic life and career that ultimately befell Baker. ~ Lindsay Planer