Search - Chet Baker :: Baker's Holiday

Fine and mellow

Sasha | at sea...sailing somewhere | 12/08/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Chet Baker have so many albums in his discography that it's not easy to select favourites - besides,I met some people who just couldn't get his appeal anyway - but as for me,I love both Billie Holiday and his music,so for me this works.

Quintessential after-hours melancholic loner spreads his magic dust here on collection of standards associated with Lady Day and althought it might not be his best work ever,it has fragile beauty as most of his recordings - it does touches me deeply and it makes far more sense than most of the artists who had recorded tributes to her (Sam Cooke and his Tribute to the Lady for example).

Baker himself had many of original recordings on singles so he is more than familiar with them - both his vocals and instrumentals are heart-felt and sincere - album is nicely divided between both and has easy flow as most of Chet Baker's work.

Pianist Hank Jones and arranger Jimmy Mundy are also present - the whole effect is relaxing,mellow and sad,althought they occasionaly swing like in a "Mean to me" which is not so far removed from Holiday's own "Columbia" original: give her a singing spot here and she would be right at home,with Baker playing behind her dreamily.

Higlight: Chet Baker's instrumental version of "These foolish things" that just goes straight to the heart of the song. And mine."