Listen

1	Funk In Deep Freeze [edit]*	Play
2	Sea Breeze	Play
3	I Am A Fool To Want You	Play
4	In A Sentimental Mood [edit]*	Play
5	You And The Night And The Music	Play
6	Alone Together	Play
7	Arborway [edit]*	Play
8	Angel Eyes	Play
9	Portrait In Black And White*	Play
10	Round Midnight	Play
11	For All We Know	Play
12	I Can't Get Started	Play
13	Beatrice [CD bonus]**	Play
	*from the last live recording with a band before his untimely dead on the 13th of May 1988.	Play
	**from the 1985 live recording with Philip Catherine on guitar and Chet Baker, besides on trumpet and vocals, on piano.	Play

Info

Chet Baker, with his signature fragile voice, cool toned trumpet playing and unmistakably recognizable charisma, became one of the most popular jazz artists of the 20th century.

Born in Yale, Oklahoma, 1937, Chet picked up the trumpet at the age of 12. He made his name with Gerry Mulligan’s pianoless quartet in 1952, and formed the Chet Baker quartet soon afterwards. Between 1978 and 1988 he toured extensively through Europe, and recorded a wealth of material for Dutch label Timeless records.

Dopeness Galore went through these recordings and found some unbelievable sessions, including his last live recording with a band in April 1988. Out of these recordings we made a “Finest” compilation, complete with pictures and the whole story of his last days. It can be argued that Chet was at his musical peak when he died in 1988, and it is recognized that some of his best recordings came from these last years.

Twenty years ago the loved and beloved, legend trumpeter Chet Baker’s life came to an untimely end when he fell out of the window of the Prins Hendrik Hotel at the Prins Hendrikkade, Amsterdam. He had toured most of his time, in Europe, with the Timeless label and so it came the founder of the label was there when this tragic accident happened on the 13th of May. Through interviews with European’s close to Chet, we made the story complete within the album’s liner notes written by:
Alex Deforce, January 2009

Chet Baker -  “the maverick jazz trumpeter whom Charlie Parker once told Miles and Dizzy to watch out for.”


Quotes

Domu (Sonarcircle): “Wow! So much feeling from an old dude. It’s dark and the right kinda light, some brazilian, loads of standards but all full of emotion and great recordings and playing! I hear another remix album coming maybe…Its a hit!

Phil (Wicked Jazz Sounds, Amsterdam): “I’m quite a fan of Chet Baker, these tunes deeply move me. What a voice, what a sound. Great that this has been dug up from the basement! I’m happy… happy… happy!”

Amar Patel (Straight No Chaser): ” It’s a complete godsend, therefore, that Dutch maverick label Dopeness Galore have compiled this addictive selection of recordings from Baker’s Timeless archive. A deeply treasured collection from one of jazz music’s beautifully tragic yet talented free spirits.”

Simon Harrison: “Wonderful selection of tracks”

Michael Rütten: ” very very good .... lovely, gentle, smooth (but in a good way) yes.”

Lefto: “I will take this album wherever I go to. Beautiful music, perfect
soundtrack for a rainy night in a big city. Chet Baker has that talent and
the voice to take you out there.”

Laurent Garnier: “Chet is THE MAN!”

Gareth Stephens (Askew recordings): “This project sounds dope for sure! Loving the version of In A Sentimental
Mood.”