Chet Baker

Early Chet - Chet Baker in Germany 1955-1959 (101 752)

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Early Chet - Chet Baker in Germany 1955-1959

Chet Baker

Jazz Haus

807280175295

HAS 144103

101 752

JAZZ

1

Early Chet - Chet Baker in Germany 1955-1959

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CD 3,99 €

-60%

9,98 €

RARE EUROPEAN RECORDINGS FROM THE EARLY DAYS OF CHET’S CAREER

This amazing CD presents a collection of rarely heard recordings made by Chet Baker in Germany during the period 1955-59. Although not properly unissued, these tracks have been long unavailable and this is the first time ever they have been put together on a single disc.
As trumpeter in the Gerry Mulligan Quartet, Chet Baker had first played his way into the hearts of fans in 1952 with lyrical ballads and a soothing tone. He gained fame seemingly overnight and in 1954 was voted best trumpeter by readers of the leading US jazz magazines – ahead of Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis. The gentle poet of the trumpet – that was his image. So it came as something of a surprise for European audiences to hear the Chet Baker they discovered at his live concerts: a trumpeter with a decisive attacca style and lively boppy lines, accompanied by a pianist who combined innovative harmonies with bizarre rhythms and a drummer who propelled the band with a hard, driving beat. No one was prepared for this Chet Baker Quartet, featuring pianist Dick Twardzik, bassist Jimmy Bond and drummer Peter Littman. “Bockhanal” is the earliest number on Early Chet and a particularly valuable rarity: just four weeks after this concert, the quartet no longer existed. Aged just 24, the pianist Dick Twardzik died a drug overdose in Paris on 21 October 1955.
Chet Baker continued his European tour with a variety of accompanying musicians. And every so often as a soloist. He was also a welcome guest of Joachim-Ernst Berendt, who would invite Baker on two further occasions to Baden-Baden to record with the Kurt Edelhagen Orchestra. The idea of recording singer Caterina Valente in duet with Chet Baker was also ahead of its time: “I'll Remember April” and “Every Time We Say Goodbye”. “Just Caterina and Chet – no one else. A meeting of ultimate refinement and ultimate simplicity,” wrote Joachim-Ernst Berendt. In these intimate duets, Chet Baker plays trumpet as only he knows how: delicate, melodic, supple. In July 1959 he headed back to Europe and returned to Baden-Baden as well. This time he made recordings with the Rolf-Hans Müller Orchestra. Particularly convincing are his performances in “Polka Dots and Moonbeams”. And in “Autumn in New York” he coolly rubs against the grain.

PERSONNEL:

CHET BAKER, trumpet on all tracks

[1-4] CHET BAKER QUARTET:
Dick Twardzik (p), Jimmy Bond (b), & Peter Littman (dr).
Special guest: Lars Gullin (bs, on tracks 2 & 4)

[5] Werner Rehm (tp), Dick Simon (tb), Gustl Mayer (cl),
Louis Freichel (vib), Claus Ogerman (p), Gerd Schüttrumpf (g),
Benoît Quersin (b), Charles Saudrais (dr)

[7 & 9] Caterina Valente, vocal & guitar

[1, 6, 8, 10, 11] Orchester Kurt Edelhagen

[12-14] Tanzorchester des Südwestfunks, conducted by Rolf-Hans Müller

Dates:
[1] Jazztime Mainz, Kurfürstliches Schloss: September 20, 1955
[2-4] Live Recording Stuttgart: October 15, 1955
[5] From SWF Television. December 6, 1955
[6-14] Studio Recordings SWF Baden-Baden: (6–9) March 26, 1956
(10–11) March 29, 1956 (12–14) September 2, 1959.

TRACKS:

01 Bockhanal 3:07
02 Cool Blues 3:30
03 Brash 4:38
04 Lover Man 5:28
05 Sweet Georgia Brown 3:16
06 Lullaby In Rhythm 3:08
07 Every Time We Say Goodbye 3:10
08 Everything Happens To Me 4:04
09 I’ll Remember April 2:49
10 Baker ’56 2:12
11 It Never Entered My Mind 3:20
12 I Should Care 2:39
13 Isn’t It Romantic? 3:06
14 Polka Dots And Moonbeams 3:54