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About Quintessence, Vol. 1
Fans of Chet Baker know that the trumpeter and vocalist's career is divided into two distinctly different periods: His elegantly minimalist 1950s work where he helped define the "cool jazz" sound of the period, and his later efforts that were maddeningly inconsistent. This aural document from his later years--recorded in Oslo in 1983--falls into the latter category, and it's a decidedly mixed bag. Baker's voice is, sadly, far from in its top form, and his vocal performances here on standards like "Just Friends" and "But Not For Me" show him straining. Still, there are plenty of reasons to like this live recording. Stan Getz himself is in fine form throughout, his tenor saxophone tone still as rich and full-bodied as ever (especially on his gorgeous opening solo on "I'm Old Fashioned"), and his backing group (Jim McNeely on piano, George Mraz on bass and Victor Lewis on drums) swings superbly. Baker's trumpet playing was also in much finer form than his voice, and during his better moments here--as on his interplay with Getz on a lovely version of "Star Eyes"--a bit of his old self shines through. --Ezra Gale
