Recommend me some Chet Baker!!

[elrod-tom]

I'm trying to build my jazz collection, and I've always enjoyed Chet Baker. Anything that anyone would recommend? I like all his stuff, but I'm partial to his instrumental cuts in particular.

 

[Lindy]

I don't claim to be a Chet Baker expert (why didn't you ask for a Bill Evans recommendation instead!

), but I do have a few Chet Baker CD's. My favorite one is this one -- Last Great Concert: My Favorite Songs 1 & 2:

If you're interested, you can hear a couple of clips at amazon.com: Chet Baker - Last Great Concert

I've had this set since it came out about 10 years ago, and I can honestly say that it's one of the few recordings that manages to make it out of my "jazz archives" for a good listen a few times each year.

Let us know what you wind up going with.

 

[holeinmywallet]

I second the recommendtation above. Not only was it Chet Baker's last Great concert, it was really his last concert before his death a week after. His take on My Funny Valentine is just hauntingly beautiful, I read that the audience after that concert thought it was an unforgetable experience.

I haven't had the chance to listen to everything that he recorded, since many of his recordings dates are so erratic and inconsistent, on many occasions he just recorded for a noname studios in need of quick cash. Chronology and publications of his records are so messed up, and that actually contributes to the fact there are some very rare Chet Baker records out there that go for quite a bit. Now, if you ask me for recommendation on Dave Brubeck and Paul Desmond.. I've listened almost everything that they recorded

.

In addition the forementioned album, I highly recommend

Chet Baker in Tokyo