Chet Baker - Amsterdam Legacy Vol 1 
Time: 49:55
Bitrate: 192 kbps

This concert of jazz standards was broadcast on November 14th, 1987 from Hamburg's Audimax Theater and was never intended for release.  The Legacy Vol 1 finds the mature Baker in top form, backed by the 18-piece NDR Big Band ( a host for Germany's best jazz sidemen ).  Baker's playing seems very relaxed in the big band setting.

The arrangements are cool and leave plenty of room for Baker's sublime trumpeting. His mature trumpet playing is clear, sweetly lyrical, instinctively rhythmic, spacey, and emotionally charged. High points include a cool and swinging version of Cole Porter's "All Of You" and Miles Davis' "All Blues," both which clearly showcases Davis' musical influence on Baker. ~

Made in November 1987, only a few months before his death, this remarkable set with Germany's NDR Big Band is one of the very best recordings of Chet Baker's whole career. There were times in his later years when his trumpet playing sounded distinctly shaky and uncertain, but there is no hint of weakness here. He spins long, delicate lines of melody with that inimitable tone, at once bright and melting, and glides effortlessly through the surrounding orchestral textures. The nine pieces are a judicious mixture of classic American songs by Cole Porter, Irving Berlin etc and modern jazz standards, arranged with great delicacy by Jorg Keller and Horst Muhlbradt. Only in Europe would it have been possible to produce an album like this because only European radio stations maintain permanent orchestras of this quality.  Chet Baker clearly relished the opportunity and rose magnificently to the occasion. ~ Amazon

Personnel:
Chet Baker, trumpet
Herb Geller, alto sax
Wolfgang Schlüter, vibraphone
Walter Norris, piano
John Schröder, guitar
Alex Riel, drums
NDR Big Band
and others

Chet Baker - Amsterdam Legacy Vol 1 Tracks:
01  Here's That Rainy Day 5:20 
02  How Deep Is the Ocean?4:35 
03  Mister B. 4:55 
04  In Your Own Sweet Way 6:50 
05  All of You 4:15 
06  Dolphin Dance 7:10 
07  Look for the Silver Lining 5:15 
08  Django 4:30 
09  All Blues 7:05