CHET BAKER

'Chesney Henry "Chet" Baker Jr.' (December 23, 1929 – May 13, 1988) was an American jazz trumpeter and singer.
Specializing in relaxed, even melancholy music, Baker rose to prominence as a leading name in cool jazz in the 1950s. Baker's good looks and delicate singing established him as a promising name in pop music as well. But his success was badly hampered by drug addiction, particularly in the 1960s, when he was imprisoned.
He mounted a successful comeback in the '70s, and died after falling from a hotel window.

Contents

Biography

Early days

Career breakthrough

Drug addiction and professional decline

Comeback and later career

Death

Book and film biographies

Honours

Partial discography

References

External links

Biography

Early days

Baker was born and raised in a musical household in Yale, Oklahoma; his father was a professional guitar player. Baker began his musical career singing in a church choir. His father introduced him to brass instruments with a trombone, which was replaced with a trumpet when the trombone proved too large for him.
He received some musical education at Glendale Junior High School, but left school at age 16 in 1946 to join the United States Army. He was posted to Berlin where he joined the 298th Army band. Leaving the army in 1948, he studied theory and harmony at El Camino College in Los Angeles. However he dropped out in his second year, and re-enlisted in the army in 1950. Baker became a member of the Sixth Army Band at the Presidio in San Francisco, but was soon spending time in San Francisco jazz clubs such as Bop City and the Black Hawk. Baker once again obtained a discharge from the army to pursue a career as a professional musician.

Career breakthrough

Baker's earliest professional gigs were with Vido Musso's band, and also with saxophonist Stan Getz. However he earned much more renown in 1951 when he was chosen by Charlie Parker to play with him for a series of West Coast engagements.
In 1952, Baker joined the Gerry Mulligan Quartet, which was an instant phenomenon. Baker became famous on the strength of his solo on their recording of "My Funny Valentine", a song with which he became intimately associated. Several things made the Mulligan/Baker group special, the most prominent being the interplay between Mulligan on baritone sax and Baker on trumpet. Rather than playing melody lines in unison like bebop giants Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, the two would complement each other's playing with contrapuntal touches, and it often seemed as if they had telepathy in anticipating what the other was going to play next.
They found quick success, but the quartet lasted less than a year because of Mulligan's arrest and imprisonment on drug charges. In 1954, Baker won the ''Downbeat'' Jazz Poll. Over the next few years, Baker fronted his own combo, playing trumpet and singing. He became an icon of the west coast "cool school" of jazz, helped by his good looks and singing talent.

Drug addiction and professional decline

A heroin user since the 1950s, the effects of drug addiction eventually caught up with Baker, and his promising musical career declined as a result. He served more than a year in prison in Italy on drugs charges, and was later expelled from both West Germany and England for drug-related offenses. Baker was eventually deported from West Germany to the United States after running afoul of the law there a second time. He settled in Milpitas in northern California where he was active in San Jose and San Francisco between short jail terms served for prescription fraud.
In 1966, Baker was severely beaten (allegedly while attempting to buy drugs) after a gig in San Francisco, sustaining severe cuts on the lips and broken front teeth, thus ruining his embouchure. Accounts of the incident vary, largely because of Baker's lack of reliable testimony on the matter. It has also been suggested that the story is a fabrication altogether, and that Baker's teeth had just rotted due to heavy substance abuse. From that time he had to learn to play with dentures.
Between 1966 and 1974, Baker mostly played flugelhorn and recorded music that could mostly be classified as early smooth jazz or mood music.

Comeback and later career

After developing a new embouchure due to his dentures, Baker returned to the straight-ahead jazz that began his career, relocating to New York City and began performing and recording again, notably with guitarist Jim Hall. Later in the seventies, Baker returned to Europe where he was assisted by his friend Diane Vavra who took care of his personal needs and otherwise helped him during his recording and performance dates.
In 1983, British singer Elvis Costello, a longtime fan of Baker, hired the trumpeter to play a solo on his song "Shipbuilding", from the album ''Punch the Clock''. The song was a top 40 hit in the UK, and exposed a new audience to Baker's music. Later, Baker would often feature Costello's song "Almost Blue" in his live sets, and recorded the song on ''Let's Get Lost''.
Near the end of Baker's life, he resided and played almost exclusively in Europe, returning to the USA roughly once per year for a few performance dates.

Death

At about 3.00 am on Friday May 13, 1988, Baker was found dead on a street below his second storey room at the Prins Hendrik Hotel in Amsterdam, Netherlands, with serious wounds to his head. Heroin and cocaine were found in Baker's hotel room, and an autopsy discovered these drugs in his body. There was no evidence of a struggle, and the death was ruled an accident. Baker's body was brought home for interment in the Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California. A plaquette outside the hotel now memorializes him.
However, since no one witnessed the death there was room for speculation. Various unsubstantiated rumors have circulated in subsequent years, suggesting that Baker was either murdered or committed suicide.^[1]

Book and film biographies

Jeroen de Valk wrote a biography of Baker: ''Chet Baker: His Life and Music''. James Gavin has also written a biography: ''Deep In A Dream — The Long Night of Chet Baker''.
Baker was immortalized by the photographer William Claxton in his book ''Young Chet: The Young Chet Baker''. An Oscar-nominated 1988 documentary about Baker, ''Let's Get Lost'', portrays him as a cultural icon of the 1950s, but juxtaposes this with his later image as a drug addict. The film, directed by fashion photographer Bruce Weber, was shot in black-and-white and includes a series of interviews with friends, family (including his three children by 3rd wife Carol Baker), associates and lovers, interspersed with film from Baker's earlier life, and with interviews with Baker from his last years.
Baker was reportedly the inspiration for the character Chad Bixby, played by Robert Wagner in the 1960 film ''All the Fine Young Cannibals''. Another film, titled ''Prince of Cool'', which is claimed to be a new take on the life of Chet Baker "the legendary trumpeter whose heroin addiction contributed to his (reported) suicide in 1988", is being planned. It will star Josh Hartnett.

Honours

★ 1989: elected to Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame by that magazine's Critics Poll

★ In 2005 Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry and the Oklahoma House of Representatives proclaimed July 2, 2005 as “Chet Baker Day”.

Partial discography

★ ''With Charlie Parker: Inglewood Jam: Bird and Chet Live at the Trade Winds'' (1952) (Fresh Sound FRS-CD 17)

★ ''With Al Haig: Chet Baker: Live at the Trade Winds'' (1952) (Fresh Sound FSCD1001)

★ ''Gerry Mulligan Quartet Featuring Chet Baker'' (1952) (Fantasy OJCCD-711-2)

★ ''Haig '53: the other pianoless quartet'' (1953) (Philology)

★ ''L.A get together'' (1953) (Fresh Sound)

★ ''Chet Baker & strings'' [bonus tracks] (1953) (Columbia/Legacy)

★ ''Chet Baker sings'' (1953) (Pacific)

★ ''Compositions and arrangements by Jack Montrose'' (1953) (Pacific Jazz)

★ ''Grey December'' (1953) (Pacific Jazz)

★ ''Quartet live, vol. 1: This time the dream's on me'' (1953) (Blue Note)

★ ''Witch doctor'' (1953) (Original Jazz Classics)

★ ''Chet Baker big band'' (1954) (Pacific Jazz)

★ ''Chet Baker sextet'' (1954) (Pacific Jazz)

★ ''Jazz at Ann Arbor'' (1954) (Pacific Jazz)

★ ''My funny Valentine'' (1954) (Philology)

★ ''Quartet live, vol. 2: Out of nowhere'' (1954) (Blue Note)

★ ''Quartet live, vol. 3: My old flame'' (1954) (Blue Note)

★ ''The trumpet artistry of Chet Baker'' (1954) (Pacific)

★ ''Chet Baker sings and plays with Bud Shank, Russ Freeman & strings'' (1955) (Pacific Jazz)

★ ''In Europe, 1955'' (1955) (Philology)

★ ''At the Forum Theater'' (1956) (Fresh Sound)

★ ''Chet Baker & Crew'' (1956) (Pacific Jazz)

★ ''Chet Baker cools out'' (1956) (Boblicity)

★ ''Chet Baker in Europe'' (1956) (Pacific Jazz)

★ ''Chet Baker Sings'' (1956) (Pacific Jazz)

★ ''Live in Europe'' 1956 (1956) (Accord)

★ ''Playboys'' (1956) (Pacific Jazz)

★ ''Quartet: Russ Freeman/Chet Baker'' (1956) (Pacific Jazz)

★ ''The James Dean story'' (1956) (Blue Note)

★ ''Embraceable you'' (1957) (Pacific Jazz)

★ ''Pretty/groovy'' (1957) (World Pacific)

★ ''Chet (The lyrical trumpet of Chet Baker)'' (1958) (Original Jazz Classics)

★ ''Chet Baker in New York'' (1958) (Riverside/OJC)

★ ''Chet Baker introduces Johnny Pace'' (1958) (Original Jazz Classics)

★ ''Chet Baker meets Stan Getz'' (1958) (Verve)

★ ''Chet Baker sings it could happen to you'' (1958) (Riverside/OJC)

★ ''Theme music from « The James Dean story'' » (1958) (World Pacific)

★ ''Chet'' (1959) (Riverside)

★ ''Chet Baker in Milan'' (1959) (Jazzland/OJC)

★ ''Chet Baker plays'' (1959) (Riverside)

★ ''Chet Baker plays the best of Lerner and Loewe'' (1959) (Original Jazz Classics)

★ ''Chet Baker with fifty Italian strings'' (1959) (Original Jazz Classics)

★ ''Picture of heath'' (1961) (Pacific Jazz)

★ ''Chet is back!'' (1962) (RCA)

★ ''Chet is back!'' (1962) (Bluebird)

★ ''Somewhere over the rainbow'' (1962) (Bluebird)

★ ''The most important jazz album of 1964/65'' (1964) (Roulette Jazz)

★ ''Brussels 1964 (1964)'' (Landscape)

★ ''Chet Baker sings and plays'' (1964) (Colpix)

★ ''Stella by starlight'' (1964) (CMA)

★ ''Baby breeze'' (1965) (Limelight)

★ ''Baker's holiday: plays & sings Billie Holiday'' (1965) (EmArcy)

★ ''Boppin' with the Chet Baker quintet'' (1965) (Prestige)

★ ''Comin' on with the Chet Baker quintet'' (1965) (Prestige)

★ ''Cool burnin' with the Chet Baker quintet'' (1965) (Prestige)

★ ''Groovin' with the Chet Baker quintet'' (1965) (Prestige)

★ ''Smokin' (1965) (Prestige)

★ ''A taste of tequila'' (1966) (World Pacific)

★ ''Hats off!!!'' (1966) (World Pacific)

★ ''Into my life'' (1966) (World Pacific)

★ ''Live at Pueblo, Colorado'' 1966 (1966) (Baker)

★ ''Quietly, there'' (1966) (World Pacific)

★ ''Polka dots and moonbeams'' (1967) (Jazzland)

★ ''Albert's house'' (1969) (Par)

★ ''Blood, Chet & tears'' (1970) (Verve)

★ ''She was too good to me'' (1974) (Columbia)

★ ''Once upon a summertime'' (1977) (Original Jazz Classics)

★ ''The best thing for you'' (1977) (A&M)

★ ''The incredible Chet Baker plays and sings'' (1977) (Carosellp)

★ ''At le Dreher'' (1978) (West Wind)

★ ''Broken wing'' (1978) (Inner City)

★ ''Live at Nick's'' (1978) (Criss Cross)

★ ''Live in Chateauvallon, 1978'' (1978) (Esoldun)

★ ''Sings, plays: Live at the Keystone Korner'' (1978) (High Note)

★ ''Two a day'' (1978) (All live)

★ ''79'' (1979) (Celluloid)

★ ''Ballads for two'' (1979) (Sandra)

★ ''Chet Baker with Wolfgang Lackerschmid'' (1979) (Inakustik)

★ ''Day break'' (1979) (SteepleChase)

★ ''Live in Montmartre, vol. 2'' (1979) (SteepleChase)

★ ''No problem'' (1979) (SteepleChase)

★ ''Someday my prince will come'' (1979) (SteepleChase)

★ ''The touch of your lips'' (1979) (SteepleChase)

★ ''This is always'' (1979) (SteepleChase)

★ ''Together'' (1979) (Enja Records)

★ ''With special guests (featuring Coryell, Williams & Williams)'' (1979) (Inakustik)

★ ''Burnin' at Backstreet'' (1980) (Fresh Sounds)

★ ''Chet Baker and the Boto Brasilian Quartet'' (1980) (Dreyfus)

★ ''Just friends'' (1980) (Circle)

★ ''Live at the Subway, Vol. 1'' (1980) (Circle)

★ ''Live at the Subway, Vol. 2'' (1980) (Circle)

★ ''Night bird'' (1980) (WestWind)

★ ''Nightbird'' (1980) (Retro Music)

★ ''Live at Fat Tuesday's'' (1981) (Fresh Sound)

★ ''Live at the Paris Festival'' (1981) (DIW)

★ ''Live in Paris'' (1981) (Norma)

★ ''In concert'' (1982) (India Navigation)

★ ''Out of nowhere'' (1982) (Milestone)

★ ''Peace'' (1982) (Enja Records)

★ ''Studio Trieste'' (1982) (CTI)

★ ''At Capolinea'' (1983) (Red)

★ ''Club 21 Paris, Vol. 1'' (1983) (Philology)

★ ''Live at New Morning'' (1983) (Marshmallow)

★ ''Live in Sweden with Åke Johansson trio'' (1983) (Dragon)

★ ''Mister B'' (1983)

★ ''Mr. B'' (1983) (Timeless)

★ ''September song'' (1983) (Marshmallow)

★ ''Star eyes'' (1983) (Marshmallow)

★ ''The improviser'' (1983) (Cadence Jazz)

★ ''Blues for a reason'' (1984) (Criss Cross)

★ ''Line for Lyons'' (1984) (Sonet)

★ ''Candy'' (1985) (Gazell)

★ ''Chet Baker in Bologna'' (1985) (Dreyfus)

★ ''Chet's choice'' (1985) (Criss Cross)

★ ''Diane: Chet Baker and Paul Bley'' (1985) (SteepleChase)

★ ''Hazy hugs'' (1985) (Limetree)

★ ''Live from the moonlight'' (1985) (Philology)

★ ''Misty'' (1985) (IRD)

★ ''My foolish heart'' (1985) (IRD)

★ ''Sings again'' (1985) (Bellaphon)

★ ''Strollin' (1985) (Enja Records)

★ ''Symphonically'' (1985) (Soul Note)

★ ''There'll never be another you'' (1985) (Timeless)

★ ''Time after time'' (1985) (IRD)

★ ''Tune up'' (1985) (Westwind)

★ ''As Time Goes By'' (1986) (Timeless)

★ ''As time goes by [love songs]'' (1986) (Timeless)

★ ''Chet Baker featuring Van Morrison live at Ronnie Scott's'' (1986) (DRG)

★ ''Live at Ronnie Scott's'' (1986) (Drg)

★ ''When sunny gets blue'' (1986) (SteepleChase)

★ ''A night at the Shalimar'' (1987) (Philology)

★ ''Chet Baker in Tokyo'' (1987) (Evidence)

★ ''Chet Baker sings and plays from the film « Let's get lost'' » (1987) (Jive/Novus)

★ ''Four: live in Tokyo, vol. 2'' (1987) (Paddle Wheel)

★ ''Memories: Chet Baker in Tokyo'' (1987) (Paddle Wheel)

★ ''Welcome back'' (1987) (Westwind)

★ "Blåmann! Blåmann!" (1988) (Hot Club Records, Oslo)

★ ''Farewell'' (1988) (Timeless)

★ ''In memory of'' (1988) (L & R Music)

★ ''Little girl blue'' (1988) (Philology)

★ ''My favourite songs, vol. 2: Straight from the heart'' (1988) (Enja Records)

★ ''My favourite songs, vols. 1-2: The last great concert'' (1988) (Enja Records)

★ ''Oh you crazy moon'' (1988) (Enja Records Justin Time)

★ ''Straight from the heart'' (1988) (Enja Records)

★ ''The heart of the ballad'' (1988) (Phililogy)

★ ''The best of Chet Baker sings'' (1989) (Blue Note Records)

References

1. Greg B., "About Chet" (fan site) URL accessed 2007-08-04

External links

★ Biography at a tribute website

★

★ Chet Baker Lost and Found