Various Artists - Chet Baker Re:imagined

Now although this initially sounds like a fairly straightforward project, the actual endeavour of capturing Baker’s sound, imitating his wistfulness, or reinterpreting his classic material is no easy task. Fifteen artists from around the world within the genres of jazz, pop, R&B and even singer-songwriting all assembled to undertake such a project – and there are certainly some gems as a result. 

Each artist brings with them their own connection to Baker’s music, crediting him as a significant influence on their own musical journeys. One such artist is British vocalist Hohnen Ford, who has admired Baker ever since she was young.  “I used to feel like my voice wasn’t big or loud enough, but hearing artists like Chet taught me that impact doesn’t come from volume - it comes from leaning into your own voice,” she comments. “It was really empowering for me.”

Ford certainly takes that lesson to heart in her rendition of ‘I Get Along Without You Very Well’. Her vocals capture a soft yet mournful tone, and a muted piano with light and airy backing vocals accompany her. Singer-songwriter dodie’s ‘Old Devil Moon’ keys into an exotic latin feel, featuring a percussive groove, clarinet flourishes, and dodie’s delicate and intimate vocals at the forefront. The singer confessed that Chet Baker was her most-listened-to artist of 2023, and on this track it’s hard to imagine that she didn’t pick up a thing or two from all that extensive listening.

Though singers are plentiful on this album, the voice of the trumpet isn’t neglected. Ife Ogunjobi takes the meaning of ‘reinterpretation’ the full nine yards in the most innovative way with his rendition of ‘Speak Low’, a track driven by grooves, bass, and the Afro-beat rhythms that form much of the sound of Ogunjobi’s band, Ezra Collective. Another standout on this album is ‘My Funny Valentine’, a well-known Baker vocal. This version keeps Chet’s authenticity and simplicity of vocal delivery from singer Matt Maltese, but where Baker’s version is stripped back and acoustic, Maltese takes his version in a brand new direction. Here, it’s a moody and dreamy haze of reverb and guitar - it’s quite a heady listen and certainly a highlight. Maltese doesn’t make the mistake of trying to imitate or recreate the original (perhaps because that would be an almost impossible feat) and so opts for a new sound that's both a tribute and something entirely new. 

Chet Baker Re:imagined aims to celebrate the work of an influential and pioneering figure of jazz, and although few can compete with Chet Baker’s originality and uniqueness of sound, this project has certainly demonstrated that his legacy and influence can act as a springboard for others to create material that sounds fresh, creative and new.