Chet Baker was an outstanding trumpet player, but it was his voice that immortalized him. His speaking voice was able to convince lovers, partners of lovers, concert promoters, fellow musicians and people he had borrowed money from of the plaintive platitudes that accompany the life of the hopeless dope fiend. His singing voice was a unique thing of exquisite beauty, apparent simplicity and, crucially, vulnerability. His love songs are timeless, and retained their punch long after Baker’s trumpet playing lost its shape, due to a drug dealer ruining Baker’s embouchure with some vicious dental work. At one of his final recordings in 1988, his “I Fall In Love Too Easily” is poignant, emotive and, almost, optimistic. You could, almost, believe that all would be all right. Those times are captured so well in the elegiac, poetic film Let’s Get Lost.

Blue Note is about to release a new tribute album to Baker’s songs, titled re:imagined, and Matilda Mann has contributed her version of “There Will Never Be Another You” to the compilation. Continue reading »