Blue Room
Chet Baker (Jazz Detective)
In the realm of Jazz, few figures loom as large or as enigmatic as Chet Baker. His life was a paradoxical blend of musical brilliance and personal tragedy, a dichotomy that is beautifully encapsulated in the album “Blue Room.”
Recorded in 1979 during two separate sessions at VARA Studio 2 in Hilversum, Netherlands, “Blue Room” is a testament to Baker’s enduring talent and resilience. Despite the personal struggles that marked his later years, Baker’s performance on this album is nothing short of captivating. His trumpet playing, characterized by a warm, lyrical approach, is as poignant and evocative as ever.
The album opens with a bossa nova rendition of Wayne Shorter’s “Beautiful Black Eyes,” where Baker’s improvisation is both natural and compelling. His soft and fragile vocal delivery on Johnny Burke and Jimmy Van Heusen’s ballad “Oh, You Crazy Moon” is an acquired taste, yet it adds a layer of vulnerability to the album that is quintessentially Baker.
The title track, “Blue Room” by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, is a 16-minute tour de force that showcases the band’s collective talent. Baker’s languid approach, while restricted in range, is precise and wonderfully melodic. Pianist Phil Markowitz shines in his lengthy solo, demonstrating his creativity and command of the instrument.
Baker’s rendition of Miles Davis’ “Nardis” is another standout. Taken at a loping tempo, Baker’s tone is pure and lyrical, offering a soulful interpretation of this classic tune. The second set of the album, featuring a local Dutch trio, includes tracks like “Luscious Lou,” “Old Devil Moon,” “Candy,” and “My Ideal.” Baker’s vocals on the last two tracks reveal a youthful mid-'50s balladeer still lurking within him.
Despite some initial miscommunication on “Old Devil Moon,” the band soon finds its footing, with Baker’s lyrical playing leading the way. This archival release is a welcome addition to the Chet Baker discography, offering a glimpse into the later years of a Jazz legend who, despite personal adversity, never lost his ability to create beautiful music.
“Blue Room” seems to set aside the all-too-common narrative of Baker’s troubled life. Instead, it presents a musician in fine form, delivering performances that are both smooth and seductive. The album covers a wide variety of Baker’s output, from straight-ahead Jazz standards to his unique vocal stylings, which are surprisingly youthful and enthusiastic.
The sound quality of the album is superb, a testament to the original recording engineers, Jim Rip and Jan Stellingwerff. They have managed to capture Baker’s performance in a way that is clear, warm, and transparent. This album is essential for Baker fanatics and well worth the attention of everyone else.
In conclusion, “Blue Room” is a poignant reminder of Chet Baker’s enduring talent and the timeless appeal of his music. It is a testament to his resilience, a beacon of light that shone brightly even in the face of personal adversity. This album is not just a collection of songs; it is a piece of Jazz history, a snapshot of a legend who, through it all, kept conjuring beautiful Jazz.
“I don’t believe that Jazz will ever really die. It’s a nice way to express yourself.”
— Chet Baker