Music, Tribute

Chet Baker Tribute

He played trumpet the way people sing — and when he sang it sounded like a mellow trumpet.

This post is a tribute to Chet Baker (1929–1988). If you don’t know who he is be prepared to be wowed by his musical brilliance.

Unique Skill

Chet (Chesney Henry Baker) was hugely influenced by the 1940s big bands. And in my life Chet has given me so much joy with his music.

His skill as a trumpet player was unique. He played trumpet the way people sing, and when he sang it sounded like a mellow trumpet. If you don’t believe me you must listen to his work. (Video at bottom of this story.)

Beautiful Chet

He was one of those beautiful young men, like James Dean. But becoming addicted to drugs had a detrimental effect on his handsome face.

I only got to know about Chet Baker about 7 years ago. My partner is a musician and I think people who know about music appreciate someone like Chet. As soon as I saw images of him I too appreciated him for different reasons!

So let me tell you a little about him.

Early Days

Chet was born into a musical family. One day his father bought home a trumpet from a pawn shop and Chet took to playing it like a duck to water!

Leaving school at 16 he joined the army as a band member. He became heavily influenced by people such as Dizzy Gillespie — a jazz trumpeter. Chet played the trumpet and the horn.

He left the army and apparently in 1949 he had his eureka moment.

Chet heard the Miles Davis recordings that would later become the top-selling jazz album of all-time, Birth of the Cool. He was said to have —

“connected with that style so passionately that he felt he had found the light.”

Around this time bass player Hersh Hamel met Baker at a tiny club in Hermosa Beach and they began playing together. Chet was described as the strong silent type and at this point had not involved himself at all with drugs.

Cool Jazz

In the 50s, Chet became the prince of cool Jazz partly due to his original style and partly due to some amazing images taken by photographer William Claxton of Chet doing his thing. Check them out here…

Naturally Hollywood came calling and Chet accepted a part in a movie - “Hell’s Horizon,” (1955) although he had never acted before. After, he was offered a contract but turned it down as he felt movie acting was extremely boring. Instead, in the mid/late 50’s, he toured and made several albums.

Drug Demise

Then, heroin seemed to literally take him over, leading to an arrest in 1960. Chet spent a year and a half in prison. Things continued to spiral out of control and in 1966 he was involved in a fight. The musician was so badly beaten in the face he couldn’t play for many years while he re-adjusted to his new facial muscles and false teeth.

He was able to gig for a bit but really because of his addiction and injuries his best years were behind him.

He died tragically, falling from hotel second floor window in 1988 — aged 59. The result of the inquest was accidental death. How sad. A beautiful man and a great talent.

And so…

Right from the start of our relationship, my partner introduced me to so many different types of music. Chet was just one. But the sounds were so melodic I have often found myself returning to them of my own volition. This man was truly a great jazz musician , influenced by the amazing 1940’s big band music. What ever age you are I suggest you give him a whirl.

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