CHET BAKER TRIO Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Recorded and released in The Netherlands by Gerry Teekens for his Criss Cross label in 1985, Chet's Choice marked one of the best studio albums from Chet Baker's final years. He would die in The Netherlands after falling from the window of his hotel room in Amsterdam on May 13, 1988. Chet's Choice presents Baker, beautifully captured in stereo, singing and playing the trumpet in an intimate trio format with guitarist Philip Catherine (born in England but raised in Belgium, Chet frequently worked with him from 1983 to 1988) and Belgian bassist Jean-Louis Rassinfosse on most of the tracks (three tunes were taped during a second session with Dutch bassist Hein van de Geijn). This expanded edition presents the full seven tunes from the original album plus three songs that only previously appeared on the CD edition of Chet's Choice, as well as five amazing never before heard alternate takes, which add nearly 40 minutes of unreleased music to Chet Baker's superb catalogue.