"But Not for Me" is a swinging reading of the George Gershwin classic from Chet Baker's 1979 album The Touch of Your Lips. Taken at a brisk 238 bpm in E-flat with a 32-bar ABAB' form, the performance features Baker in his dual role as vocalist and trumpeter. He opens with three vocal choruses, his soft, conversational singing style bringing an intimate quality to Gershwin's witty lyric about romantic disappointment. Guitarist Doug Raney follows with two fluid electric guitar choruses, his clean tone and melodic approach complementing Baker's aesthetic perfectly. Baker then picks up his trumpet for two instrumental choruses, his horn playing displaying a leaner, more daringly sparse approach than his 1950s work. Bassist Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen closes with two virtuosic bass choruses that showcase his extraordinary technique and harmonic imagination. The performance exemplifies Baker's ability to inhabit a song completely, whether singing or playing, and the trio's intuitive rapport suggests long hours of shared music-making. This track demonstrates that Baker's artistry only deepened with age, his interpretive gifts more than compensating for any diminishment in pure trumpet power.
