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Chet Baker

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Chet Baker
Chesney Henry Baker Jr. was an American singer and jazz trumpeter who rose to fame with his classic song ‘My Funny Valentine.’ Chet started his career in his 40s and made a mark immediately after joining ‘Gerry Mulligan Quarter’ in 1952. He released many jazz numbers, such as ‘Walkin’ Shoes,’ Bernie’s Tune,’ and ‘My Funny Valentine’ with Gerry. In the same year, he also had an opportunity to play with Charlie Parker. All through the 50s, Chet produced albums, such as ‘It Could Happen to You’ and ‘Chet Baker Sings.’ As much as he was loved and admired for his talent, his addiction to heroin was also not hidden from anyone. His drug addiction almost destroyed his career and ultimately killed him. He was arrested several times for drug-related offences. He even pawned his music instruments and took a lot of beating by a mob, before deciding to take control of his life and returning to music around the 70s. After his comeback, he created a lot of meaningful music. He died on May 13, 1988, of an apparent fall from the window of his hotel room in Amsterdam.
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Born
December 23, 1929
Birth Place
Yale, Oklahoma
Nationality
American
Sun Sign
Capricorn
Also Known As
Chesney Henry Chet Baker Jr., Chesney Henry Baker
Famous As
Jazz Trumpeter
Died At Age
58
Place Of Death
Amsterdam
Education
El Camino College
Father
Chesney H. Baker Sr.
Mother
Vera Baker
Spouse(s)
Charlene Souder, Halema Alli, Carol Baker (m. 1965–1988)
Children
Chesney Aftab Baker, Dean Baker, Missy Baker, Paul Baker
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Augusta Free Press

Discover the best Chet Baker albums of all time

If you’re a fan of jazz music, you know the name Chet Baker. He was one of the most influential trumpeters in American jazz history. His unique style and approach to music have inspired countless musicians. In this blog post, we will be looking at some of his best...
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allaboutjazz.com

Jazz Musician of the Day: Chet Baker

All About Jazz is celebrating Chet Baker's birthday today!. Chesney Henry “Chet" Baker Jr. was raised in a musical household in Oklahoma (his father was a guitarist), and coming of age in Southern California during the bebop era of jazz, Baker found success as a trumpet player in 1951 when he was chosen by Charlie Parker to play with him for a series of West Coast engagements.
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gratefulweb.com

"Lofi Holiday Mixtape, Vol. 2" Out Today Feat. Lofi Makeovers Of Classic Christmas And Holiday Favorites By Chet Baker, Ella Fitzgerald, Ferrante & Teicher, Kay Starr, The Supremes And The Temptations

Classic Christmas songs and seasonal favorites by the legendary likes of Chet Baker, Ella Fitzgerald, Ferrante & Teicher, Kay Starr, The Supremes, and The Temptations have been radically transformed with Lofi makeovers for UMe’s Lofi Holiday Mixtape Vol. 2, out now digitally everywhere. Listen here: https://LoFiHoliday.lnk.to/MixtapeVol2. Following on the...
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jazzwise.com

Chet Baker: Nine Essential Albums

Although it’s a bit long in the tooth now and therefore perhaps hard to hunt down, being put together in 1994, this is still a reasonably well-organised look at Baker’s 1950s time with Pacific Jazz, from his initial dates with Mulligan’s quartet through to his December 1957 swansong. Along the way his own small groups, his vocal albums and his partnerships with people such as Pepper and Konitz are touched upon, giving the listener a pretty broad sweep of his abilities and range at the time.
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jazziz.com

Song of the Day: Chet Baker, “Old Devil Moon”

(Chet Baker Sings) It Could Happen To You is one of four albums Chet Baker released for the renowned jazz label Riverside between 1958 and 1959. It is also the only one of these titles not produced by the label’s co-founder Orrin Keepnews. At this time, Baker had established his trademark West Coast Cool style and each of the recordings of this era demonstrates his versatility as a modern trumpeter and vocalist. While 1958’s (Chet Baker Sings) It Could Happen To You found him setting aside his trumpet on several tracks, it also offers a modern, hipper take on old standards, like “Old Devil Moon,” which you can hear via the player below.
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coolcleveland.com

Local Musicians Pay Tribute to 50s Jazz Icon Chet Baker in Downtown Akron

Trumpet player & vocalist Chet Baker was an interesting and problematic figure. Good-looking, charismatic and undeniably talented, he left a legacy of self-destructive drug use that shortened his productive career while adding to his mystique. He died in 1988 at the age of 58 but his heyday was in the 50s, before his self-abuse caught up with him when he had an active recording and touring career.
AKRON, OH
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Chet Baker – Chet – Craft Recordings

(Chet Baker – trumpet; Herbie Mann – flute; Pepper Adams – baritone saxophone; Bill Evans – piano; Paul Chambers – double bass; Connie Kay – drums Philly Joe Jones – drums; Kenny Burrell – guitar. Post-WWII jazz was noted for the transformative shift to cool jazz. In lieu of the...
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theartsdesk.com

theartsdesk on Vinyl 64: Chet Baker, Lava La Rue, Bob Mould, Krust, The Yardbirds, The Fratellis and more

Things got out of hand at theartsdesk on Vinyl this month and these reviews run to 10,000 words. That's around a fifth of The Great Gatsby. It's because there's so much good music that deserves the words, from jazz to metal to pure electronic strangeness. That said, this is the last time theartsdesk on Vinyl will reach this kind of ludicrous length. So enjoy it. Dig deep. There's something for everyone. Dive in!
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londonjazznews.com

10 Tracks By Chet Baker I Can’t Live Without…by jazz singer/pianist Robin Phillips

In our series in which musicians do a “deep dive” into the music of their inspirations, singer/ pianist Robin Phillips describes ten tracks by Chet Baker. Robin writes:. My relationship with Chet has become a bit chicken-and-egg: did I start listening more closely to him because I was being likened to him as a jazz singer? Or was it because his singing just moved me? To begin with I felt a bit uneasy about the comparison (and, to be honest, when people found echoes of Mel Tormé as well), considering that these kinds of remarks were people’s polite way of suggesting that my vocals lacked depth…but I am now arriving at a point where I’m grateful when anyone makes these connections between me and these two complete masters of delivering a melody.
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mcccagora.com

‘Chet Baker Sings’ helps alleviate stress

Most people have a certain type of music that helps them destress from overwhelming situations. Mine happens to be a jazz album from 1956. “Chet Baker Sings” was the first vocal album cool jazz trumpeter Chet Baker ever recorded. What makes this album so calming and timeless is the relaxing...
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jazziz.com

Vinyl Watch, March 2021: Chet Baker, Charles Lloyd & More

Vinyl is back! Each month on “Vinyl Watch,” we list some of the most noteworthy new vinyl releases — including new albums, reissues, special-edition box sets and more. At JAZZIZ, we share the vinyl community’s appreciation of the experience of collecting and playing vinyl records. As an increasing number of music fans discover the joy of vinyl, we hope these lists will serve as a starting point for new musical discoveries.
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Chet Baker Plays The Best Of Lerner And Loewe – Craft Recordings

(Chet Baker – trumpet; Herbie Mann – flute, tenor saxophone; Zoot Sims – alto saxophone; tenor saxophone; Pepper Adams – baritone saxophone; Bill Evans – piano; Bob Corwin – piano; Earl May – double bass; Clifford James – drums) The concept of adapting Broadway musicals to jazz arrangement is part...
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Chet Baker In New York – Craft Recordings

(Chet Baker – trumpet; Johnny Griffin – tenor saxophone; Al Haig – piano; Paul Chambers – double bass; Philly Joe Jones – drums) Trumpeter Chet Baker is strongly associated with West Coast Jazz. He first gained attention as a member of the Gerry Mulligan Quartet in the early 1950’s. Baker’s style was to play in counterpoint to Mulligan, rather than the typical unison approach of this era. He eventually fronted his own ensembles, that including his relaxed vocals on standards. The association with “My Funny Valentine” would last throughout his career. His later output would encompass straight ahead jazz, but a significant part of this legacy would be anchored by the West Coast sound. Like others, his drug addiction was overwhelming, yet he continued to navigate jazz stardom. With a natural ease, Baker’s organic approach to music expanded his popularity. While he recorded with several labels over four decades, his prolific stint (7 albums in just over two years) with Riverside was among his definitive musical accomplishments.
NEW YORK CITY, NY
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Wolfgang Lackerschmid & Chet Baker – Quintet Sessions 1979 – Dot Time Records

(Chet Baker – trumpet and vocals (track 2); Wolfgang Lackerschmid – vibraphone; Larry Coryell – guitar; Buster Williams – bass; Tony Williams – drums) Following on the heels of the well received duo recording, released last year (from a 1979 recording) featuring iconic trumpeter, Chet Baker, and German vibraphonist, Wolfgang Lackerschmid (BalladsforTwo), Dot Time Records has upped the ante with a very impressive quintet session, with the duo backed by a dream rhythm section. Backing the pair is the brilliant fusion guitarist, Larry Coryell; veteran bassist, Buster Williams, and drummer phenom, Tony Williams. Just released on pristine 180 gm vinyl, the remastering of this session by Lou Gimenez, at The Music Lab, is first rate. Both the sparkling vibes, and the meaty, “woody” bass, just pop with sparkling clarity.
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jazziz.com

Song of the Day: Chet Baker, “I’ve Never Been In Love Before”

Chet Baker wanted to be known as a trumpeter first and foremost. Yet, it is arguably his voice – as well as his good looks – that shot him into superstardom. In fact, while mostly sticking close to the melody, few were ever better at breathing new life into well-worn standards as he. The timbre of his voice, like the tone of his trumpet, was warm and tender, calm and soothing, perfectly balancing control and vulnerability.
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