Artist: Chet Baker
Album: As Time Goes By
Genre: Cool, Vocal Jazz
Label: Timeless/Ultra-Vybe/Solid
Released: 1986/2020
Quality: FLAC (tracks+.cue)
Tracklist:
- You and the Night and the Music (Dietz-Schwartz) - 5:31
- As Time Goes By (Hupfeld) - 6:53
- My Melancholy Baby (Burnett-Norton-Watson) - 7:02
- I Am a Fool to Want You (Wolf-Herron) - 8:43
- When She Smiles (Danko) - 6:07
- Sea Breeze (Burr) - 7:01
- You Have Been Here All Along (Burr) - 7:44
- Angel Eyes (Dennis-Brent) - 6:11
- You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To (Porter) - 4:34
- Round Midnight (Monk-Williams) - 7:39
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- Personnel:
- Chet Baker - trumpet, vocals
- Harold Danko - piano
- Jon Burr - bass
- Ben Riley - drums
While Baker's chops are clearly subpar there is a quaint romanticism to it all that somehow snares the listener. Performing with a first-rate trio (pianist Harold Danko, bassist Jon Burr, and drummer Ben Riley), the trumpeter runs through ten tunes, most of which Baker has recorded before. Nonetheless, the more than an hour of recording time gives everyone a chance to stretch. And, Baker's vocals on "As Time Goes By" and "Round Midnight" are never tiring. Baker is a more than a bit muddled in his singing, sounding as though his mouth is filled with steel wool. Yet, the feelings he displays are so pure and touching that every note is imbued with deep emotion. Most of the songs are performed slowly, sometimes heart-wrenchingly so. While Baker seems tired, there is a cool, raw touch throughout, making this a decent example of the trumpeter's later playing. His range seems even more limited than usual, too. Danko is a thorough joy, and plays splendidly in support.
Review by Steve Loewy