"Chet Baker In Tokyo"

[Free For All]

I don't know if this one has been discussed, but I think it's some excellent late (1987!) Chet. I don't know if the inspiration that night was spiritual or chemical, but Chet seems to be very much alive and kicking. Sometimes late Chet is almost painful to listen to, but this one is a pleasure. Even after reading "Deep In A Dream" and learning more than I needed to, I still love listening to all Chet. Talk about someone who did a lot with limited tools, especially late in his career! I really like those My Favourite Songs/Straight From The Heart sessions (1988). Also, from 1984, Blues For A Reason w/ Warne Marsh.

[brownie]

There were just too many albums published from the last years of Chet Baker.

But those two CDs are testimony that Baker was still producing superb music then.

He was really inspired on these. Even 'My Funny Valentine' that he overrecorded finds

new meanings here. ' Four' that he sometimes had trouble playing gets a

swinging and lyrical treatment.

He sounds like he somehow found something that resembles Peace during that

Japanese tour.