CHET BAKER: CHET BAKER QUINTET WITH BOBBY JASPAR

Performer: Chet Baker Quintet (Bobby Jaspar, tenor saxophone and flute; Jean-Louis Chautemps, tenor saxophone; Benny Vasseur, trombone; Francy Boland, piano; Jimmy Bond, double bass; Jean-Louis Viale, drums)
Composer: Chet Baker
Number of discs: 1
Barcode: 3700409812880
Label: Sam Records
Format: LP
Genre: Jazz
Year: 2014

Following a proposal by Nicole Barclay, Chet Baker arrived in Paris in early September 1955. On the 22nd—or possibly the 23rd—of the same month, the great American jazz musician signed a contract committing him to record seven albums (the number was later changed to three, which was the number of records actually recorded).

Released shortly after Baker returned to the United States, this album bears little resemblance to his other releases, mainly because the rush in which it was made did not allow things to be given their due. Unlike his earlier albums, this title cannot be considered a concept album; it presents a simple overview of Baker’s activity in the French capital, largely reflecting his moods at the time.

On October 25, Baker appeared at Studio Pathé-Magellan with only Jimmy Bond and without the trio’s usual bassist. In the subsequent octet sessions, Baker’s melodic talent was fully showcased in the superb compositions by Pierre Michelot (“Chet” and “Dinah”) and Christian Chevalier (“Vline”). These three pieces were miniature concertos with a simply magnificent sound. On November 28, Baker returned to the same studio, this time with pianist Raymond Fol, bassist Benoît Quersin, and drummer Jean-Louis Viale, to record two improvisations: the first based on “Alone Together,” the famous 1932 standard by Howard Dietz and Arthur Schwartz, and the second beginning with “Exitus,” a piece composed by Phil Urso, one of Baker’s closest friends.

These performances are among the finest Baker produced during this period, along with “Chekeeta” (or “Chik-Etah”) and “How About You.” To meet his subsequent concert obligations, Baker had to rely on a stable group, initially choosing Ralph Schecroun—later known as Errol Parker—as pianist, who was later replaced by Francy Boland. Alongside them was bassist Eddie de Haas, formerly with Martial Solal and Henri Renaud; Renaud had in the meantime lost his regular drummer, Charles Saudrais, then only seventeen. According to Jean-Louis Chautemps, “When Bobby Jaspar wasn’t in the mood or asked for too much, they looked for someone willing to accept a lower fee—specifically me. I wasn’t given a proper audition: we were at the Tabou, I played with Chet, he said I was fine, and two days later we were in Reykjavik, Iceland.”

Al Cohn’s “Tasty Pudding” and “Anticipated Blues”—one of the very few pieces Baker claimed to have written—were part of the repertoire of what became Baker’s final band in Europe. These tracks led Pierre Michelot to comment: “Using completely ordinary means, Baker could play phrases of astonishing beauty with unmatched simplicity and transparency.”

Tracklist:

Side A

1. How About You?
2. Once in a While
3. Chekeetah
4. Alone Together
5. Chet

Side B

1. Dinah
2. Tasty Pudding
3. Anticipated Blues
4. V-Line
5. Exitus