Chet Baker: Songs For Lovers

Alex Henderson

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Published: October 1, 1997

The title sums it up quite well— Songs For Lovers focuses on young Chet Baker at his most lyrical and romantic. Spanning 1953-1957, this collection takes us back to the Miles Davis-influenced trumpeter's youth and his years with Pacific Jazz—a label for which he often excelled. On "Come Rain or Come Shine," "That Old Feeling" and "There's A Lull In My Life," we're reminded that while Baker the vocalist may not have had the world's greatest range, he was hardly lacking when it came to naked vulnerability. Ornette Coleman put it best—Baker didn't have had much of a voice, but that never prevented him from being an incredibly expressive singer. Meanwhile, Baker's warmth as a trumpeter is evident on "My Old Flame," "Moonlight In Vermont" and "Lullaby Of The Leaves," all recorded at L.A.'s Tiffany Club in L.A. Though most of the material was recorded in L.A., "Embraceable You" and "There's A Lull In My Life" are rare examples of Baker recording in New York. The format is also unusual for him—just Baker's vocals (no trumpet) accompanied by guitarist David Wheat and bassist Ross Savakus.

Jazz doesn't get any more intimate.

Reprinted with the permission of Myrna Daniels and L.A. Jazz Scene , the largest jazz publication in Southern California.

Record Label: Capitol Records
Style: Straight-ahead/Mainstream