Baker's Holiday

Chet Baker emphasizes his vocals rather than trumpet on this 1958 recording, cut in New York with a high-grade band including pianist Kenny Drew and drummer Philly Joe. He drops some characteristically tuneful horn solos, such as a smoky, tenderly muted excursion on “My Heart Stood Still.” But just as often he opts for effortless vocal improvisations, scatting the sort of rhythmically fluid, mellow lines he produces on his brass instrument, breezing through the title track without hitting the ground.