Chet Baker on Steeplechase

[Late]

Feelings/thoughts on this period of Chet? Any particular titles that you recommend over others?

[Free For All]

Not a Steeplechase, but this is some late-period Chet that I really like. His later stuff is inconsistent, but on this one he sounds strong.

[Free For All]

Here's a Steeplechase side I like:

[Joe]

My absolute favorite later-period Chet can be found on other labels (e.g., CANDY on Sonet; PEACE and STROLLIN', both on Enja; BLUES FOR A REASON with Warne Marsh on Criss Cross), but, of the Steeplechases, DIANE, his duets with Paul Bley and NO PROBLEM, a quartet session featuring Duke Jordan and his compositions, are very fine.

Edited November 29, 2011 by Joe

[Spontooneous]

Second the recommendation for "No Problem."

[brownie]

'The Touch of Your Lips' is my favorite Steeple Chet! Also worth seeking is 'When Sunny Gets Blue'!

Another favorite album from that era is 'Broken Wing' on the Jazz In Paris series:

[Head Man]

Again, not on Steeplechase but here's a late-period Chet Baker I'm very fond of. It's on Criss Cross and has Philip Catherine on guitar:

[king ubu]

"Diane" is otherworldly! One of the most gripping, fascinating discs I've heard... it's as if Chet was visiting us back from the other side.

[paul secor]

Of the trios he recorded with Doug Raney and NHOP, The Touch of Your Lips is my favorite. As others have mentioned, you can't miss with No Problem (w. Duke Jordan) or Diane (w. Paul Bley).

Mr. B (Timeless) has some good Chet, but I prefer the Steeplechases.

[Son-of-a-Weizen]

Another favorite album from that era is 'Broken Wing' on the Jazz In Paris series:

Good choice.....I too like this one.

[Niko]

i really like Rassinfosse/Baker/Catherine on Igloo, more here, which was recently reissued as Crystal Bells but haven't heard any of the steeplechases so far...

[gmonahan]

"Diane" is otherworldly! One of the most gripping, fascinating discs I've heard... it's as if Chet was visiting us back from the other side.

I'm with Ubu on this one--really interesting Chet, and Paul Bley is wonderful.

gregmo

[paul secor]

Chet Baker blows soulfully on Charlie Haden's Silence (Soul Note) from 1987. Listened to it today to see if it's held up, and it has.

[B. Goren.]

One of my favorites is this one:

Duke Jordan is another good reason to listen to this CD.

[king ubu]

I've not heard "No Problem" for I guess 15 years... failed to connect back then, guess I ought to give it another chance.

I do love "Peace" and "Broken Wing" a lot. And the Criss Cross with Warne Marsh is mighty fine. As for the trio albums, I'll hand over to Niko... he knows them much better than I do, but I do really enjoy "Strollin'", the first I've heard of Chet's trio with Philip Catherine. And "Mr. B." (recently reissued) is pretty good, too (though with Michel Graillier in Catherine's place).

[Morganized]

One of my favorites is this one:

Duke Jordan is another good reason to listen to this CD.

[Victor Christensen]

I have all the records mentioned, but "Diane" in duet with Paul Bley is my absolute favorite, very subdued and intimate.just played it yesterday.

BTW When I was in Amsterdam a couple of years back did I see a plate in memory of Chet on the wall of that small hotel (near the centralstation) where Chet "fell" ?????? out of the window from his room and died from the fall.

Vic

[paul secor]

I have all the records mentioned, but "Diane" in duet with Paul Bley is my absolute favorite, very subdued and intimate.just played it yesterday.

BTW When I was in Amsterdam a couple of years back did I see a plate in memory of Chet on the wall of that small hotel (near the centralstation) where Chet "fell" ?????? out of the window from his room and died from the fall.

Vic

That plate is mentioned several times in Bill Moody's Searching for Chet Baker. That book is fiction, so it's interesting to know that the plate does exist.

[Chuck Nessa]

If you only want 2, Diane and The Touch of Your Lips will do nicely. In fact, I think these are all you need from Chet after the Prestige sessions.

[Larry Kart]

If you only want 2, Diane and The Touch of Your Lips will do nicely. In fact, I think these are all you need from Chet after the Prestige sessions.

As much as I like those two, "Live in Tokyo" and the recently issued "Sesjun Radio Shows" are musts IMO.

I have all the records mentioned, but "Diane" in duet with Paul Bley is my absolute favorite, very subdued and intimate.just played it yesterday.

BTW When I was in Amsterdam a couple of years back did I see a plate in memory of Chet on the wall of that small hotel (near the centralstation) where Chet "fell" ?????? out of the window from his room and died from the fall.

Vic

Yes, he did fall -- no mystery or foul play. See Jeroen de Valk's biography, not the mereitricous "Deep In a Dream."

[Chuck Nessa]

wrong again.

[Larry Kart]

wrong again.

Which part? Or everything? I did mis-spell meritricious.

[Chuck Nessa]

wrong again.

Which part? Or everything? I did mis-spell meritricious.

My comment was referring to my post.

[Head Man]

I have all the records mentioned, but "Diane" in duet with Paul Bley is my absolute favorite, very subdued and intimate.just played it yesterday.

BTW When I was in Amsterdam a couple of years back did I see a plate in memory of Chet on the wall of that small hotel (near the centralstation) where Chet "fell" ?????? out of the window from his room and died from the fall.

Vic

I too played "Diane" yesterday. I never liked it when I first bought it many years ago.......sadly, I still don't.

No problem, I played "Chet's Choice" and felt much better

[Peter Friedman]

Just remembered a late Chet Baker session that I like very much.

Will play it today or tomorrow.

Chet Baker Meets Space Jazz Trio - Little Girl Blue - Philology