Ooh, this sounds pretty different to me than what we've heard so far. I think that's mostly due to the appearance of electric guitar in a few tracks and more prominent bass throughout—it strikes me as more "modern" overall? The song that most captured my attention was "Ballata in forma di blues," written for the album by Amedeo Tommasi (who also plays piano on the album); something about that starting chord progression had me completely transfixed. Interestingly, almost none of the other songs on the album were original compositions. They're almost exclusively covers, including a Thelonious Monk track (remember that name) and that perennial favourite, Over the Rainbow.

After eight instrumental tracks, I wasn't expecting the vocals on the last four (all sung by Baker himself). There's a good reason for that—those four tracks weren't on the original album release; they were a series of "orchestral pop tracks" that Baker later recorded with Ennio Morricone. (Yes, that Ennio Morricone.) Regardless, they've got a calm charm of their own that complements the more upbeat earlier tracks. I'm glad they were added for this CD reissue.

As for Chet Baker the man, he seems to have been the poster boy for everything your high school's anti-drug program said would happen—with his boyish good looks and multifold musical talents, surely the world was young Chet's oyster! Unfortunately—like many of his contemporaneous jazzmen—Chet developed a heroin addiction early in his career and spent the rest of his life in and out of jail. He died at age 58 after apparently falling out of a hotel window while high.

As if that wasn't sad enough, Wikipedia's biography of Chet includes the sentence "Baker was an irresponsible and distant father," with a footnote. Dear reader, I will be a father myself soon, and while I am sure I will make more than my own fair share of mistakes, I'm hoping not to foul it up to the point that it's citation-worthy.

One more obligatory random connection. Remember when I said that listening to Parole E Musica made me feel like I was in Ripley? Turns out I was a couple of weeks early—in the 1999 movie The Talented Mr. Ripley (based on the same source material as the 2024 miniseries), Matt Damon impersonates a Chet Baker recording.

Favourite track: Ballata in forma di blues