Jazz Live in Europe: Chet Baker in Oslo (1983)

In august 1983 Chet Baker had some concerts in Oslo (Norway) supported by the Norwegian pianist Per Husby and his trio. Two of those sets were published posthumously  in a rare CD some years after.

part I [flac]

part II [flac]

Chet plays some long solos and he never seems to get tired or run out of ideas. In addition of some his favorite tunes of Hal Galper and Tad Dameon he does some nice playing on the standard Polka Dots and Moonbeams, a tune he didn't play much in those years.

The recording quality is not excellent, for a lot of talking and other noises, but the Chet performance lives them down.

"Estate" the most well known italian jazz standard

The italian piano player, singer and composer Bruno Martino wrote the pop song "Estate" (Summer) with text of Bruno Brighetti in 1960.

In the following video the original version.

The brasilian singer Joao Gilberto, during a tournée in Italy heard it and decided to include the song in his repertoire and also recorded it in italian.

From that moment the song became famous and was played and sung by many important jazz artists as Chet Baker, here "At Capolinea" (Milan-Italy) 1983 with Nicola Stilo (fl), Diane Varvra (s. sax), Michel Grailler (pf), Riccardo Dal Frà (bs), Leo Mitchel (drm).

Michel Petrucciani, at Umbria Jazz Perugia-Italy in 1995

Shirley Horn and many others.

After 50 years this song is played and recorded by many artists all over the world. Here a french version of Claude Nougaro

and an italian version by the jazz trumpet player Fabrizio Bosso and the singer and piano player Sergio Cammeriere.

Jazz Live in Europe: Chet Baker at "Sesjun" Radio Show

From time to time new unissued recordings of the great Chet Baker suddenly appear.

The last ones are from same private tapes of the artist recorded, in diferent years, during his performances at one important Dutch live radio show the "Sesjun".

Chet Baker: The Sesjun Radio Shows

CD 1

01. There will never be abother you (Harry Warren/ Mack Gordon)

02. I'm old fashioned (Jerome Kern/Johnny Mercer)

03. Ray's idea (W.G. Fuller/ Ray Brown)

04. Chet's theme (Chet Baker)

Personnel:

Chet Baker (tr),

Jacques Pelzer (flute),

Harold Danko (piano),

Cameron Brown (bass)

Broadcast Live on Feb 26, 1976 ; Laren, The Netherlands, 'De Boerenhofstede'

05. This is always (Harry Warren/ Mack Gordon)

Personnel:

Chet Baker (tr),

Phil Markowitz (piano),

Scott Lee (bass),

Jeff Brillinger (drums)

Broadcast Live on Nov 30, 1978 ; Laren, The Netherlands, 'De Boerenhofstede'

06. Just friends (John Klenner/Sam Lewis)

07. Lady bird (Tadd Dameron)

08. Blue 'n' boogie (Dizzy Gillespie/Frank Paparelli)

Personnel:

Cher Baker (tr),

Wolfgang Lackerschmid (vibraphone),

Frank Tusa (bass),

Alphonse Mouzon (drums)

Broadcast Live on Oct 30, 1980 ; Laren, The Netherlands, 'Nick Vollebregt's Jazzcafé'

CD 2

01. My foolish heart (Ned Washington/Victor Young)

02. Margarine (Hal Galper)

Personnel:

Chet Baker (tr),

Michel Graillier (piano),

Jan Voogd (bass),

John Engels (drums)

Broadcast Live on July 19, 1984; Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Concertgebouw.

03. Strollin' (Horace Silver)

04. Love for sale (Cole Porter)

05. Leaving (Richie Beirach)

06. Lament (J. J. Johnson)

07. Shifting down (Kenny Dorham)

Personnel:

Chet Baker (tr),

Philip Catherine (guitar),

Jean Louis Rassinfosse (bass)

Broadcast Live on Feb 15, 1985 ; Laren, The Netherlands, 'Nick Vollebregt's Jazzcafé'

Jazz in Europe: Chet Baker quint. in Paris & Stuttgart (1955)

In october 1955 Chet Baker came in Europe for the first time with his quartet including the pianist Richard (Dick) Twardzik (1931 - 1955), [in foto with the drummer Peter Littman of the quartet] who died from a heroin overdose in Paris on october 21, during the tournée.

The following album contains the two dates recorded in Paris on october 11 and 14 with the quartet, including also bassist Jimmy Bond and drummer Peter Littman; in addition to the nine original issue in LP this album includes four bonus tracks from a concert given in Stuttgart on october 15, with the same group plus local guest musicians: the baritone sax player Lars Gullin and the singer Caterina Valente, before issued in different albums.

Chet Baker (tp)
Richard Twardzik (p)
Jimmy Bond (bs)
Peter Littman (drm)
Lars Gullin (sax b) in 10-13
Caterina Valente (vcl) in 13

Tracks

1. Rondette
2. Mid-Forte
3. Sad Walk
4. Re-Search
5. Just Duo
6. Piece Caprice
7. Pomp
8. The Girl from Greeland
9. Brash
10. Cool Blues
11. Brash
12. Lover Man
13. I’ll Remember April

the following links aren't created by this blog's author, who only indicates links present on the web

part 1

part 2

These tracks, according with Jack Chambers, author of a interesting biography "Bouncin' with Bartok: The Incomplete Works of Dick Twardzik" (Berkeley Hills Books, Berkeley, CA, 2004): «may represent the apogee of Baker's talents as a pure musician».

Jazz in Italy - Tribute to Chet Baker at Umbria Jazz 2008

On July 2008 at Umbria Jazz Festival in Perugia (Italy) to remember Chet Baker in 20th anniversary of his death four musicians, that played with him, were reunited in a group, named CHET MOOD QUARTET, to play the music he used to like, well known standards.
The concert is unissued and is taken from a radio broadcast.

"Chet Mood" Quartet

Enrico Rava (trumpet & flugelhorn), Philip Catherine (guitar), Riccardo Dal Frá (double bass), Aldo Romano (drums)

Recorded at Teatro Morlacchi, Perugia (Italy)
on tuesday 15th July 2008

1 All Of You 12.38
02 Polka Dots & Moon Beams 13.10
03 -introduction by Rava 1.00
04 Bernie's Tune 8.09
05 Broken Wing 8.57
06 Time After Time 10.18
07 -introduction by Del Frá 1.11
08 I'm a Fool To Want You 8.31
09 Doodlin' 8.33
10 My Funny Valentine 9.30
11 band's intro & encore break 1.10
12 If I Should Lose You 7.09

MP3

Rare Jazz Live in Europe: Chet Baker in Paris 1955-56

Following with some rare albums of Chet Baker's first tournée in Europe, here another album with all tracks recorded in Paris, published in the 60's in England and never reissued in the same form.

In same tracks is possible to listen to Bobby Jaspar (1926-1963) a famous belgian saxophonist, flautist and composer known also as husband of Blossom Dearie (1924-2009) the excellent american pianist and vocalist.

Chet Baker with Bobby Jaspar: I Get Chet
(Felsted records PDL 85036)

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 (*)

(#) Chet Baker Octet
Chet Baker (tp) Benny Vasseur (tb) Jean Aldegon (as) Armand Migiani (ts) William Boucaya (bars) Rene Urtreger (p) Jimmy Bond (b) Nils-Bertil Dahlander (d)
Paris, 25th October, 1955

(**) Chet Baker Quartet
Chet Baker (tp) Raymond Fol (p) Benoit Quersin (b) Jean-Louis Viale (d)
Paris, 28th November, 1955

(*) Chet Baker Quintet
Chet Baker (tp) Bobby Jaspar (ts) Rene Urtreger (p) Benoit Quersin (b) Jean-Louis Viale (d)
Paris, 26th December, 1955

(##) Chet Baker Quintet
Chet Baker (tp) Jean-Louis Chautemps (ts) Francy Boland (p) Eddie De Haas (b)
Charles Saudrais (d)
Paris, 10th February, 1956

(+) Chet Baker Octet
(same as 25th October 1955)
Paris, 15 march, 1956

New Link [flac]

Bobby Jaspar discography

Rare Jazz Live in Europe: Chet Baker in Florence 1956

Chet Baker came in Europe for the first time in 1955-56 and remained for about six months, playing in France, Germany, Italy and Denmark. The quantity of the albums that document his performances is exterminate and drives the collectors mad.

On 1956 january 24 he gave a concert in Florence (Italy) at the prestigious Conservatorio Cherubini, unissued for many years, and published in CD about twenty years ago.

Chet Baker quintet: Live in Florence 1956
(Nel Jazz NLJ 0954-2)

1.This Is Always
2.Ray's Idea
3.You Don't Know What Love Is
4.Stella By Starlight
5.Cool Blues


Chet Baker Quintet
Chet Baker (tp)
Jean-Louis Chautemps (ts)
Francy Boland (p)
Eddie De Haas (b)
Charles Saudrais (d)

NEW LINK

Chet Baker discography