Chet Baker's personalized style was well served later in his life, and
as his days in Europe were more conducive to his personal lifestyle, it
also gave his music a chamber-like quality while maintaining modern
mainstream values. Broken Wing is a combination of the two aspects of
Baker's understated romanticism, the deep-seeded pain through his drug
abuse and the humanity that lies underneath the rough-hewn surface of
his tattered heart. This quartet combines the advanced melodic gifts of
pianist Phil Markowitz, the great French bassist Jean-François
Jenny-Clark, and lesser-known but tasteful drummer Jeff Brillinger, from
studio sessions done in Paris in 1978. The tracks are extended because
of solos, done mostly by Baker, split between standards and originals
penned by the trumpeter, Richie Beirach, and Wayne Shorter. Baker sings
on one cut, the lesser-known standard "Oh, You Crazy Moon," with an
elusive quality that parallels the specious and ineffable quality of our
late-night light in the sky. Fairly lengthy versions of "How Deep Is
the Ocean?" and Baker's "Blue Gilles" allow the trumpeter and especially
the marvelous Markowitz to stretch out and solo, as they have a
streaming flow of improvisational ideas to release. Beirach's "Broken
Wing" is particular poignant, deep, and modern, a pretty but sad ballad
waltz where Baker's muted trumpet echoes Miles Davis in a
forward-thinking style. The lesser-known piece written by Wayne Shorter,
"Black Eyes" is in another arena especially for Baker -- marginally
harmonic in a light bossa mood, spare, effortless, and compacted within
its interplay from the four members. This is not so much an unusual
recording from Baker in that his risk-taking is never pronounced or that
his soul is completely bared. The document of a short-lived group, it's
an interesting effort, well crafted and standing solidly with other
items in his latter-period discography. Broken Wing has been reissued on
CD from Inner City Records; it should also be noted that Universal has
issued this recording with two alternate takes, comprising another
quarter hour of music. Either item will suffice to satisfy Baker's fans. Michael G. Nastos
Tracklist :
1 Broken Wing 7:08
Written-By – Richard Beirach
2 Black Eyes 8:35
Written-By – Wayne Shorter
3 Oh You Crazy Moon 7:02
Written-By – Johnny Burke / Jimmy Van Heusen
4 How Deep Is The Ocean 10:08
Written-By – Irving Berlin
5 Blue Gilles 11:13
Written-By – Chet Baker
6 Black Eyes (Alternative Take) 8:46
Written-By – Wayne Shorter
7 How Deep Is The Ocean (Alternative Take) 8:33
Written-By – Irving Berlin
Credits :
Bass – Jean-François Jenny-Clark
Drums – Jeff Brillinger
Piano – Phil Markowitz
Trumpet, Vocals – Chet Baker
Nota :
Number 08 of the Jazz in Paris series, although for some reason excluded from the series box set.
Reissue of LP 16 685, recorded Paris, December 28,1978. 
