Chet Baker - She Was Too Good To Me （1974）

Personnel: 

Chet Baker: vocals, trumpet
Paul Desmond: alto saxophone
Hubert Laws: flute, alto flute
Ron Carter: bass
Bob James: electric piano
Jack DeJohnette & Steve Gadd: drums


Tracks List：

01 - Autumn Leaves
02 - She Was Too Good To Me
03 - Funk In Deep Freeze
04 - Tangerine
05 - With A Song In My Heart
06 - What'll I Do
07 - It's You Or No One
08 - My Future Just Passed


Chet Baker entered my life before I was a teenager, when someone in my family brought the classic "Chet Baker and Strings" into our home -- presumably by accident -- and left it sitting around for a few weeks. Since no one at home listened to LPs (except my Dad's Opera sets), any albums (from Gilbert and Sullivan to Tchaikovsky to Sigmind Romberg) not played within a short time after their arrival in the home simply moved upstairs became mine. Hence, Chet Baker was my first introduction to Jazz. Diluted by the string arrangements, to be sure, but Jazz it was (including, e.g., the late great Zoot Sims)!

That was the 1950s. I returned to jazz and to Chet Baker after many years, during which Chet's life (and especially his teeth) had gone to [his addiction], and he had regained his chops with amazing effort. Now, again, he was beginning to rise in the public eye -- though nothing like the interest triggered by his death some years later (walking out of a 2nd story wondow "by accident"). One of the prominent comeback albums when I checked back in was the gorgeous, "She Was Too Good to Me."

Like my much earlier introduction, this album is lush with strings, and rich, crystal clear production. (Many of the also-lyrical 1950s albums are musically superb, but lacking clear production.) Here, though, I was introduced to my first Chet Baker vocals, later learning that this was among his most tuneful, on-key vocal sessions.

Chet Baker is the most lyrical of all jazz trumpeters -- even including the extraordinary Joe Wilder and Joe Newman. Chet's tone is always thick and buttery, rather than sharp and brassy. (Thinking only of his trumpet's tone, the buttery texture of Chuck Mangione's horn comes to mind, although Chet dwarf's Mangione in every respect.


By J. Winokur




What'll I do
When you are far away
And I am blue
What'll I do?

What'll I do?
When I am wond'ring who
Is kissing you
What'll I do?

What'll I do with just a photograph
To tell my troubles to?

When I'm alone
With only dreams of you
That won't come true
What'll I do?


What'll I do with just a photograph
To tell my troubles to?

When I'm alone
With only dreams of you
That won't come true
What'll I do?