Chet

Best known for his near-evanescent singing voice and close ties to West Coast jazz, Chet Baker takes a different path here on an all-instrumental, all-ballad set that may well be his most beautiful recording.

Drawn from 1958–59 sessions, the album places Baker in line-ups ranging from quartet to sextet, and his trumpet playing is exceptional throughout: strong, secure and clear, with a feel for the smallest inflections.

The company around him is just as impressive. Bill Evans, deep in the process of reshaping the piano ballad, brings real depth and nuance from the opening chords of Alone Together, which here carry an echo of Blue in Green. On September Song, Kenny Burrell offers equally sensitive support with a wistful guitar accompaniment.

Pepper Adams, appearing on seven tracks, adds a craggy baritone saxophone tone that plays beautifully against Baker’s smooth, melodic trumpet. Herbie Mann contributes flute and arrangements to several of the sextet performances, while the rhythm section, with Paul Chambers on bass and Philly Joe Jones and Connie Kay sharing drumming duties, keeps everything resilient and lightly propulsive.

The set closes with Early Morning Mood, a long, slow Baker blues and a lovely final entry in a finely chosen programme of standards.