Chet Baker

Born in Yale, Oklahoma, in 1929, Baker grew up in a home where music was part of daily life. His father played guitar in the *Western swing* style, and his mother was a pianist. The family moved to Glendale, California, in 1940. His first musical steps were in a church choir, and he then switched from trombone to trumpet at age 13, an instrument he found more manageable. He is said to have had a natural ease with music, learning melodies by ear before he even had an instrument. After a stint in high school, he joined the army in 1946, serving in Berlin with the 298th Army Band, where he discovered modern jazz through records by Dizzy Gillespie. After leaving the army in 1948, he studied music theory at El Camino College, though he later re-enlisted, joining the Sixth Army Band in San Francisco and playing in venues like Bop City and Black Hawk. After his final discharge in 1951, he dedicated himself entirely to music.

Baker joined the Gerry Mulligan Quartet in 1952, a pivotal moment that catapulted him to general attention. Instead of following identical melodic lines, Baker and Mulligan developed a contrapuntal style, anticipating each other's ideas. It was during this time that he recorded his iconic solo on *My Funny Valentine*. He led several quartets between 1953 and 1956, winning reader polls in magazines like *Metronome* and *DownBeat*, surpassing figures like Miles Davis and Clifford Brown. In 1954, readers chose him as the best jazz vocalist. That same year, Pacific Jazz Records released Chet Baker Sings, an album that, while increasing his popularity, also generated some criticism, though Baker continued to sing throughout his career.

His time in Europe in 1955 led to recordings like Chet Baker in Europe and collaborations, including accompaniments for Caterina Valente. He continued recording in Los Angeles and New York, participating in projects like *Playboys* with Art Pepper, the soundtrack for *The James Dean Story*, and *Reunion with Chet Baker* alongside Mulligan. He also recorded *Chet* for Riverside Records, with musicians of the caliber of Bill Evans. The 1950s were also marked by his struggle with heroin addiction, which resulted in arrests and periods of inactivity, leading him to spend time in various European countries. In the early 60s, he released Chet Is Back! and recorded with Ennio Morricone. An incident in 1966 caused damage to his teeth, affecting his ability to play the trumpet and flugelhorn, which led to a temporary decline.

Baker attempted a comeback in the 1970s, performing in the United States and Europe, and recording albums like *She Was Too Good to Me* (1974) and a live recording at Carnegie Hall. From the late 70s onwards, he recorded prolifically in Europe, collaborating with musicians like Philip Catherine. In 1983, he participated in Elvis Costello's song *Shipbuilding* for the album Punch the Clock. In 1985, he recorded in Brazil with Rique Pantoja. His performance at *Ronnie Scott's London* was documented in 1986. His later works included *Chet Baker in Tokyo*. His life and career were captured in the documentary *Let's Get Lost* (1988) by Bruce Weber. Baker passed away in Amsterdam in May 1988, after falling from a hotel window. Heroin and cocaine were found in his system, and his death was ruled accidental.