Chet, Please

Chet Baker remains one of those beautiful tragic figures whose talents as a jazz musician were eclipsed by a drug addiction that led to his death. Chet Baker: The Legendary Riverside Albums (2019) isa a remastered collection of five albums cut in the 1950s for the Riverside label. Among them are notable records such as It Could Happen To You (1958) and Chet (1959). These albums bear testimony to Baker's beautiful trumpeting skills and singing voice. But there are also signs of Baker losing his grip - in a couple of songs, he uncharacteristically slurs. Still, there are moments of radiance, especially in Chet, where a collaboration with legends such pianist Bill Evans and saxophonist Pepper Adams brings out the unique gifts that made him a star in the first place.