Chet Baker Sings (Gatefold Cover)

As Gerald Heard's liner notes point out, it's difficult to decide whether Chet Baker was a trumpet player who sang or a singer who played trumpet. When the 24-year-old California-based trumpeter started his vocal career in 1954, his singing was revolutionary; as delicate and clear as his trumpet playing, with a similarly bright and vibrato-free tone, Baker simply didn't sound like any previous jazz singer. His first vocal session, recorded in February 1954 and covering tracks seven through 14 of this disc, is so innocent-sounding it's like cub reporter Jimmy Olsen had started a new career as a jazz singer. The album's first six tracks, recorded in July 1956, are even more milk and cookies, thanks in no small part to syrupy material like Frank Loesser's "I've Never Been in Love Before" and Donaldson/Kahn's drippy "My Buddy." Choices from the earlier session like "My Funny Valentine" -- arguably the definitive version of this oft-recorded song -- and "There Will Never Be Another You" work much, much better. The spacious musical setting, a simple trumpet and piano-bass-drums rhythm section, is perfect for Baker's low-key style. Despite the few faults of song selection, Chet Baker Sings is a classic of West Coast cool jazz. ~ Stewart Mason

ジャズ･ヴォーカル･アルバム名盤中の名盤。決して上手くはないものの、けだるく、哀愁漂う彼のヴォーカルとトランペットがあまりにもムーディーな１枚。秋の夜長にはまります！！ (C)ANCHOR

トランペッターであり、とても魅力的なシンガーでもあるチェット・ベイガ－「マイ・ファニー・ヴァレンタイン」をはじめ、彼が歌う名曲の数々、あの甘ーい歌声に女性なら絶対惚れてしまいますよ!! (C)KIYOSSI