Possessing a whisper-soft voice and sweetly melodic trumpet tone, Chet Baker (1929-1988) had a sound that is often imitated yet almost impossible to master. For the latest edition of Blue Note’s Re:imagined series, in which the jazz label invites artists to produce cover versions of its back catalogue, 15 R&B, pop, soul and jazz artists have been given the unenviable task of interpreting Baker’s repertoire – with often surprising results.
The trumpeter-vocalist’s supple take on jazz standards is well reflected in singer Dodie’s delicate version of Old Devil Moon as she emphasises the original’s swaying Latin percussion. British singer-songwriter Matt Maltese’s My Funny Valentine adds a beautifully elegiac guitar line to the well-worn melody. Other approaches work less well, with US singer Mxmtoon’s clean vocal tone overpowering I Fall In Love Too Easily’s sense of wistful romance.
But for every misstep there’s another gem. Ezra Collective trumpeter Ife Ogunjobi’s bass-heavy version of the swinging Speak Low is a revelation, while Puma Blue’s It’s Always You is unsettlingly dark and reverb-laden. The Re:imagined project ultimately serves to highlight that while few can match Baker’s sound, stretching, expanding and responding to it can produce fresh delights.