Product description


As Gerald Heard's liner notes point out, it's difficult to decide whether Chet Baker was a trumpet player who sang or a singer who played trumpet. When the 24-year-old California-based trumpeter started his vocal career in 1954, his singing was revolutionary; as delicate and clear as his trumpet playing, with a similarly bright and vibrato-free tone, Baker simply didn't sound like any previous jazz singer. His first vocal session, recorded in February 1954 and covering tracks seven through 14 of this disc, is so innocent-sounding it's like cub reporter Jimmy Olsen had started a new career as a jazz singer. The album's first six tracks, recorded in July 1956, are even more milk and cookies, thanks in no small part to syrupy material like Frank Loesser's "I've Never Been in Love Before" and Donaldson/Kahn's drippy "My Buddy." Choices from the earlier session like "My Funny Valentine" -- arguably the definitive version of this oft-recorded song -- and "There Will Never Be Another You" work much, much better. The spacious musical setting, a simple trumpet and piano-bass-drums rhythm section, is perfect for Baker's low-key style. Despite the few faults of song selection, Chet Baker Sings is a classic of West Coast cool jazz.

Payments and Delivery


  • Spend $100 and get free shipping on all domestic US orders.
Icon image for https://images.prismic.io/roughtrade/ZpaY4h5LeNNTxNUc_RT_site_Icons_FreeShipping.png?auto=format,compress

Click & Collect from our New York store and pay $0 on shipping.

Icon image for https://images.prismic.io/roughtrade/ZpaMzB5LeNNTxNM4_RT_site_Icons_ClickandCollect.png?auto=format,compress

Tracked Global shipping is available on all products.

Global Icon

In-stock items dispatched in 24-48 hours.

Dispatch Icon

Carefully packaged in recycled packaging

Packaging Icon

For all information on Shipping and Orders click here.

Information Icon
Gatefold Deluxe 180gm.
Black
Released05/06/2022Catalog NumberDOL797HGCustomer Limit1Learn more
180g Vinyl
Royal Blue
Released12/24/2021Catalog NumberDOL797HBCustomer Limit1Learn more