Wolfgang Lakershmid/Chet Baker: Quintet Sessions 1979

Rating: ★★★★

Record and Artist Details

Musicians:

Larry Coryell
Chet Baker
Buster Williams
Wolfgang Lakerschmid (vb)
Tony Williams

Label:

Dot Time

February/2021

Media Format:

CD

Catalogue Number:

DT 8018

RecordDate:

1979

Death and taxes, we're assured, are the only certainties in life. I'd add another: that the discography of trumpeter Chet Baker will forever continue to expand, much like the known universe, despite the fact that the trumpeter himself checked out in 1988. This issue isn't strictly speaking a new discovery as it's been available before, but much the same rules apply. German vibraphonist Lackerschmid was a member of Baker's touring group at this point and was delighted to find his leader returning the favour. The results are pleasant but distinctly low key given a line-up that features Tony Williams. Lackerschmid mines the same sort of territory as Bobby Hutcherson and Baker is Baker on a so-so day, which means that while everything is pretty, nothing much lodges itself in the ear.

Perhaps the biggest impediment to this being not merely a good record but a great one comes in the shape of Buster Williams, who suffers twice, the first from that appalling bass sound that marred many a 1970s jazz album, and secondly from intonation problems that make his solos a particularly startling irritant. Not anyone's finest hour then, and even when padded out with some previously unissued bonuses it's difficult to see why this has been resurrected. Completists only, I fear.

Follow us

Jazzwise Print

  • Latest print issues

From £5.83 / month

Subscribe

Jazzwise Digital Club

  • Latest digital issues
  • Digital archive since 1997
  • Download tracks from bonus compilation albums during the year
  • Reviews Database access

From £7.42 / month

Subscribe

Subscribe from only £5.83

Never miss an issue of the UK's biggest selling jazz magazine.

Subscribe

View the Current
Issue

Take a peek inside the latest issue of Jazzwise magazine.

Find out more