Chet baker was a primary exponent of the west coast school of cool jazz in the early and mid50s. This is a tragic and true story of a broken childhood, drugs, manipulation and abuse, of romance, world fame and the creation of jazz history. On the eve of a new biopic starring ethan hawke, heres an introduction to the. Looking for chet baker by bill moody, released on feb 21, 20. Chet baker in europe a jazz tour of the nato countries, chet baker. Apr 16, 2012 enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on youtube. The my funny valentine recording reference in the discography states chet baker sings on cd blue note 92932 or lp pacific jazz 1222.
His early promise was frustrated by involvement with drugs, however, and by a popular shift in taste away from the cool jazz of the west coast. An academy awardnominated 1988 documentary about baker, lets get lost, portrays him as a cultural icon of the 1950s, but juxtaposes this with his later image as a drug addict. Born to be blue is a 2015 internationally coproduced drama film directed, produced and written by robert budreau. Releasing an entire album under the moniker chet baker big band is a bit of a misnomer, as only the first four sides actually incorporate an 11person configuration. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Brazilian vocalist luciana souza pays tribute to legendary trumpetersinger chet baker on her 20 album the book of chet. The film is about american jazz musician chet baker, portrayed by hawke. Nov 18, 2011 in 2002 james gavin published his excruciatingly detailed biography of chet baker, deep in a dream. Because i knew nothing about baker other than the fact i liked his music and style of playing the horn until i read this book. The chet baker collection artist transcriptions paperback february 1, 2002 by chet baker author visit amazons chet baker page. The book of chet is luciana souzas inspired interpretation of the music of trumpet player and singer chet baker.
The wild ride of the most romanticized icon in jazz is thrillingly. Buy chet baker s album titled chet to enjoy in your home or car, or gift it to. James gavins book about chet baker, the jazz singer and trumpeter who first gained fame in the early fifties and who, only a few years later. The remaining tracks from the longplayer feature a slightly smaller nonet configuration. Jan 01, 1993 chet baker was just twentytwo when he was discovered by charlie parker in 1951. Chet baker s famous angellike sound, so dreamy and romantic, came from the lips of a deamon. As a companion to the book, which should add to the books sales, blue. From the early stuff in paris 1955, barclay records to all the great pacific jazz recordings with russ freeman et al that helped define the west coast sound, so beautifully photographed and chronicled by the great william claxton. The film, directed by fashion photographer bruce weber, was shot in blackand. Regrettably, i got to speak with only one of his four children.
Otherwise, i approached hundreds of people for interviews, and virtually no one refused. Feb 10, 2011 i could write a book peter leitch dwayne burno walkers nyc june 2, 20 duration. Studio trieste is an album by trumpeter chet baker, guitarist jim hall and flautist hubert laws which was recorded in 1982 and released on the cti label. He was a cult figure whose wellpublicized struggles with drug addiction curtailed a promising career. Facebook is showing information to help you better understand the purpose of a page. Baker earned much attention and critical praise through the 1950s, particularly for albums featuring his vocals chet baker sings, it could happen to you. Shop vinyl and cds and complete your chet baker collection. Chet in chicago 1986 as time goes by 1987 cool cat 1986 as time goes by, subtitled love songs, is an album by trumpetervocalist chet baker which was recorded in 1986 and released on the dutch timeless label. Based on interviews with baker and many friends and musical associates, this is the first englishlanguage biography of the great jazz trumpeter and singer. Chet baker play along includes 10 transcriptions of chet s improvised solos for bflat and c concert instruments.
It was shown in the special presentations section of the 2015 toronto international film festival. These jazz classics have a display at the wonderful living in a modern way. An english professor who needs to publish one more book to achieve tenure, ace wants horne to help him research reallife jazz great chet baker. Interactive download by chet baker, sonny rollins, george benson, and frank sinatra. Baker s vocal numbers would also feature his trumpet playing, as well as fine instrumental support from west coast cool jazzers. Aug 01, 2000 chet baker 19291988 was a star by the age of twentythree, winner of all the jazz polls as singer as well as trumpeter. After 16 years, the book is finally available in paperback. In 2002 james gavin published his excruciatingly detailed biography of chet baker, deep in a dream. This is a tragic and true story of a broken childhood, drugs, manipulation and abuse, of romance, world fame and. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. All the more haunting after reading this book sunday independent detailed and percepti deep in a dream. In this book, like baker s fans, listening to a radio broadcast from hannover, germany, on april 29, 1988, where baker was to recreate his 1954 album chet baker with strings, only days before. The book has been well received, particularly among longtime baker fans. Chet s solos were spliced out on 10 tracks of the cd, so you can sit in and play chet s solos along with his original accompaniment, or improvise your own ideas.
The beloved yet infamous chet bakertrumpeter, crooner, junkie, and doomed james deanlike icon of 1950s jazzhas always projected an air of mystery and even more so, perhaps, in the years since his death in the late 1980s. An iconoclastic musical figure, chet had a unique and lyrical approach to singing informed by his superb musicianship, his singing was heartfelt, yet detached. This book, full of lurid details, is not for the faint of heart. See all 6 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. The two classifications were not mutually exclusive. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on youtube. Chet baker 19291988 was a star by the age of twentythree, winner of all the jazz polls as singer as well as trumpeter. Chet baker american musician and vocalist britannica. Baker s life, in its broader outlines, reads almost like a romantic hollywood portrayal of a jazz musician. I really only know the few big names in jazz music, chet baker being one of them. Buy chet bakers album titled chet to enjoy in your home or car, or gift it to another music lover. Chet baker book chicago public library bibliocommons. Buy chet baker sextet, chet baker s album titled chet is back.
December 23, 1929 may, 1988 was an american jazz trumpeter and vocalist. Buy chet baker s album titled chet baker sings blue vinyl to enjoy in your home. Licensed to youtube by umg on behalf of fantasy records. An interesting book about the musician and his life, beyond the music that he. Chet baker, in full chesney henry baker, born december 23, 1929, yale, oklahoma, u. Complete legendary sessions by chet baker 8436569191477.
To much of the pop as opposed to the jazz audience, chet baker was known not as an able cool jazz trumpeter, but as a romantic balladeer. Once in a while, i come across a book and i generally only read biographies which stir me up and send my thoughts off in new and ultimately productive directions. Chet baker, american jazz trumpeter and vocalist noted for the plaintive, fragile tone of both his playing and singing. As a trumpeter, he had a generally restrained, intimate playing style and he attracted attention beyond jazz for his photogenic looks and singing. December 23, 1929 may, 1988 was an american jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist and singer. The beloved yet infamous chet baker trumpeter, crooner, junkie, and doomed james deanlike icon of 1950s jazzhas always projected an air of mystery and even more so, perhaps, in the years since his death in the late 1980s.
Chet baker chet 1959 chet baker trumpet herbie mann flute. His life and music gives for the first time a full account of the famous trumpeter famous as much for his tragic life as his beautiful music. Born in oklahoma and reared in california from age 10, baker began playing. The book has a slight tone of contempt for baker because of his life off the bandstand. A blog supreme baker s legacy may be debated, but his artistry shouldnt be. More than that, it is a vivid account of the junkie subculture that ran through midtolate 20th century jazz. Chet s solos were spliced out on 10 tracks of the cd, so you can sit in and play chet s solos along. Mar 21, 2010 a picture video of the life of chet baker.
The best of chet baker sings by chet baker 84365594668. Chet baker dominated the jazz scene of the 1950s, working clo. It was the heyday of the california jazz scene, and the handsome, brooding young trumpeter skyrocketed to fame. Interestingly, while souza has picked a handful of songs that will. In 1988, baker fell or was pushed from his hotel window in amsterdam, i. The author has interviewed dozens of baker \s friends and colleagues, his wife, carol baker, as well as the investigating team that made the initial report on chet \s strange death. Chet bakers distinctive west coast, cool jazz trumpet sound. Chet baker 19291988 was a star by the age of twentythree, winner of a. The third album souza has recorded with husband and producer larry klein, the book of chet also features guitarist larry koonse, bassist david piltch, and drummer jay bellerose.