Joe Barbieri / Chet lives!

"There are plenty of musicians who attempt to celebrate Chet Baker 'the trumpet player'. However, those who are able to pay tribute to Chet Baker 'the singer' are few and far between. Joe Barbieri is without a doubt the most appropriate candidate to address this alternative aspect of Chet's talent. With his smooth and yet fragile tone, his acute yet profound sensitivity and his ability to leave his own ego totally to one side, Joe Barbieri tackles Chet's repertoire with a wise man's simplicity and an admirer's humble respect.This fellow artist, originally from Naples, has already had three chances to demonstrate his approach, which seems so fragile where in fact it is simply delicate in style (on the albums ""In Parole Povere"" in 2004, ""Maison Maravilha"" in 2009 and ""Respiro"" in 2012). Like Chet's, Barbieri's voice brushes lightly over us rather than caressing us, whispers more than it murmurs, while always maintaining a precarious balance and a natural, innocent touch. Barbieri's mode of expression strikes us as in every way as uncontrived. The lack of affectedness proves he is never tempted to put his own talents on display. Barbieri never falls into the trap of feigning pain or showing compassion. He shares with Chet the ability to scrub each track clean of all superfluous artifice. Chet Lives! is the selfless homage of an eternal admirer."