*** Chet Baker Quartet

CHET BAKER IN TOKYO

(Evidence)

There are far too many mediocre Chet Baker albums from late in his career, but this concert in Japan by his working quartet showcases the trumpeter at the peak of his powers. A hard-bopping performance from a man usually pegged as the ultimate cool player, this double-CD reissue finds Baker positively fiery on Jimmy Heath's "For Minors Only" and the Miles Davis classic "Four." Throughout the set, his solos maintain the natural melodic flow and relaxed swing that marked his best playing from his rise in the 1950s. His gossamer tone was always an advantage on ballads, and Elvis Costello's "Almost Blue" and the inevitable "My Funny Valentine" are lyrical gems that rank among his best renditions of those tunes. Baker sings on four of the 11 tracks, which is a plus or minus depending on your taste for his affectless, world-weary vocalizing. His band, featuring pianist Harold Danko, bassist Hein Van Der Geyn, and drummer John Engels, offer sensitive support and distinctive soloing. If your image of Baker is the dissipated hipster junkie profiled in Bruce Weber's documentary Let's Get Lost, this release will open your eyes (and ears) to a different artist altogether.

-- Ed Hazell