Chet Baker’s tribute album to Billie Holiday, Baker’s Holiday, is coming to vinyl. Upon original release in 1965, Baker’s Holiday showcased a number of songs previously unrecorded by the musician. The album’s ten tracks highlight Baker’s signature trumpet and features a full sax section, a four-piece rhythm section that includes pianist Hank Jones, and arrangements by Jimmy Mundy. Out in October via Verve’s Acoustic Sounds Series, the remastered 180-gram vinyl features transfers from analog tapes and deluxe gatefold packaging.
Baker’s Holiday includes interpretations of a number of jazz standards previously performed by Holiday across her career, including “Travelin’ Light,” “You’re My Thrill,” and her final song, “Don’t Explain.” Baker’s Holiday also features “Easy Living” and “These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You),” standards Holiday recorded with the jazz pianist Teddy Wilson. Other tracks include “There Is No Greater Love” and “That Ole Devil Called Love,” which was released as the b-side of Holiday’s hit “Lover Man.”
Earlier this year, Decca Records France reissued a trio of Chet Baker In Paris albums in honor of what would have been the jazz legend’s 95th birthday. In October 1955, Baker arrived in Europe for a series of concerts with his quartet. The first music recorded during the Prince of Cool’s time in Paris became Volume One, and is largely composed of interpretations of songs by Robert L. “Bob” Zieff. The album also includes “The Girl From Greenland,” a composition by pianist Richard “Dick” Twardzik. Twardzik died from an overdose a week after the Volume 1 sessions were completed.
Baker returned to the studio just three days later and began work on Volume 2, which is composed of eight standards haunted by Twardzik’s death. Sessions recorded between October 25, 1955 and February 1, 1956 were compiled into Volume 3, otherwise known as Chet Baker And His Quintet With Bobby Jaspar.
Verve’s Acoustic Sounds 2024 series includes classic records from the likes of Ben Webster, Diana Krall, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Sonny Rollins, and many more. The majority of the albums (including Baker’s Holiday) have been mastered by Ryan K. Smith at Sterling Sound while Bernie Grundman at Bernie Grundman Mastering will master the Diana Krall titles and a number of others.