Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Chet Baker: Songs For Lovers

Chet Baker: Songs For Lovers

By AAJ Staff
October 1, 1997
View read count

The title sums it up quite well— Songs For Lovers focuses on young Chet Baker at his most lyrical and romantic. Spanning 1953-1957, this collection takes us back to the Miles Davis-influenced trumpeter's youth and his years with Pacific Jazz—a label for which he often excelled. On "Come Rain or Come Shine," "That Old Feeling" and "There's A Lull In My Life," we're reminded that while Baker the vocalist may not have had the world's greatest range, he was hardly lacking when it came to naked vulnerability. Ornette Coleman put it best—Baker didn't have had much of a voice, but that never prevented him from being an incredibly expressive singer. Meanwhile, Baker's warmth as a trumpeter is evident on "My Old Flame," "Moonlight In Vermont" and "Lullaby Of The Leaves," all recorded at L.A.'s Tiffany Club in L.A. Though most of the material was recorded in L.A., "Embraceable You" and "There's A Lull In My Life" are rare examples of Baker recording in New York. The format is also unusual for him—just Baker's vocals (no trumpet) accompanied by guitarist David Wheat and bassist Ross Savakus.

Jazz doesn't get any more intimate.

Reprinted with the permission of Myrna Daniels and L.A. Jazz Scene , the largest jazz publication in Southern California.

Personnel

Chet Baker

trumpet and vocals

Album information

Title: Songs For Lovers | Year Released: 1997 | Record Label: Pacific Jazz Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Talkin' Square Biz with Arkadia Prez...
< Previous

The Squirrel
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.