Chet Baker - Best Of Chet Baker [Purple Spain Import]

Few voices in jazz sit as close to the listener's ear as Chet Baker's, and this Best Of Chet Baker gathers his most tender moments on limited 180-gram purple vinyl, imported from Spain.

Baker rose to fame in the 1950s as the golden boy of West Coast cool, a trumpeter whose lyrical, unhurried phrasing made him a star almost overnight. Then he started singing, and his soft, almost conversational vocals drew mixed reactions from purists while winning over a devoted audience. This generous collection celebrates both sides of his talent, moving between ballads sung barely above a whisper and trumpet lines that seem to hang in the air long after the last note.

The standards are the stars here. But Not for Me shows off that famously fragile croon, while Let's Get Lost captures the wistful romance that later gave a documentary about his life its title. It Could Happen to You brings a lighter, easy swing to the middle of the set, and the record closes on My Funny Valentine, the song that became his calling card and still defines him for many listeners.

For anyone starting out with Baker, it is a beautifully paced way in, and the purple pressing makes it a striking addition to the jazz shelf. Late-night listening rarely gets more intimate.