Thanks for the music post.
I always learn from them.
This article is SO RIGHT ON.
Chet Baker was ...looking for the word...a genius.
His music was so classic and forced you to listen to it, because it was so powerful.
Wish to return to the days of appreciation of such magic.
Bookmark
This is the piece that introduced Chet to Europe:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeidKXueKec
I have his autograph that I received after his concert in Cocertgebouw in Amsterdam. Saw him twice in concert — First with his quartet and a year later with the Gerry Mulligan sextet which included Zoot Sims and Brookmeyer. Best Trumpet ever in my opinion is still Clifford Brown whom I saw with Lionel Hampton. If you really want to enjoy good jazz, go to Scheveningen and Amsterdam in Holland or to Burghausen in Bavaria. Jazz is more appreciated in Europe. MJQ, Kenton, Basie, Getz, Mullican were regular visitors in Amsterdam. Even Armstrong showed up with Sydney Bechet. Ella and Vauhgn came in concert regularly. We kept abreast with new trends in jazz by tuning in to AFN (American Forces Network) from Germany.
What made you post this now? Who thinks of Chet Baker?
He was an amazing musician and terribly flawed person. I loved the documentary about him and this video made me so melancholy and almost brought a tear to my eye when I saw and heard an innocent America backed by smooth music.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lyVDPo3pMsc
Deep in a Dream (book).
It’s an ugly picture of Chet Baker
Money for drugs while his sidemen were continously stiffed. Liar, cheat, thief, all for the next injection. He had so many veins closed down that he was injecting drugs into his scrotum at one point. He was a howling raging animal. A sad tale for sure.
I remember reading a quote from Herb Ellis a jazz guitarist of the ‘50s who once said while listening to Chet Baker at a concert “if there’s a melody in there somewhere Chet is going to find it.”
He played a good horn, a lyrical horn, I really did not like his singing especially later on when he had lost his teeth and replaced them with dentures. His teeth fell out because of his drug use... his tone on the horn suffered as well.
What a terrible story Chet Baker’s legacy turned out to be.
A soulful late career performance of My Funny Valentine:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gs9iNS0HO7U
Mark for later
A sad ending and troubled life for a great talent. I do not understand the attraction of drugs, not even for musicians as an aid to creativity — but then again, my musical talent would be stretched past its limits by trying to play a tune on a kazoo.