Due to the loss of his teeth in a fight and health difficulties from heroin addiction,
Chet Baker's later career recordings are often rough rehashings of his earlier successes. Many of the trumpeter/vocalist's posthumous releases merely restate his unique gift for lyricism and, as such, probably don't garner him any new fans. Not so here. Of the myriad recordings printed after his death, few color
Baker's career as vividly and deeply as
Why Shouldn't You Cry. Detailing a musical relationship with vibraphonist
Wolfgang Lackerschmid between 1978 and 1988, the album is a haunting, ambient collection of original compositions by
Lackerschmid -- barring an arresting version of
Baker's signature standard "You Don't Know What Love Is." Originally envisioned as a duet project, this collection includes performances and songs by guitarist
Larry Coryell and bassist
Buster Williams with accompaniment by guitarist
Nicola Stilo and drummer
Tony Williams. The spare group setting and unusual combination of trumpet and vibes allows
Baker to free up his often conservative playing.
Lackerschmid, no stranger to the atonal mayhem of free jazz, plays with a soft, deft harmonic touch. Together, the duo creates vast clouds of harmony. This is particularly true on the ballad "Five Years Ago," where
Lackerschmid utilizes ghostly volume swells to backlight
Baker's pointillist trumpet lines. Another standout track is "Chet's Ballad," a vocal version of "Why Shouldn't You Cry" recorded after the artist's death with vocalist
Lillias White featuring
Baker's old cool jazz buddy alto saxophonist
Lee Konitz A fitting tribute on an album that truly showcases
Baker's sanguine musical genius. ~ Matt Collar