Chet Baker: Twenty Years

There's a rumor that a full-length ballet on the life and music of Chet Baker is in the works in San Francisco. What do you guys think of that?

(It's more than a rumor. San Francisco's Company C Contemporary Ballet has it scheduled for April. See: http://events.sfgate.com/rohnert-park-ca/events/show/88515681-company-c-contemporary-ballet -- DR)

"Let's Get Lost:" beautiful film about Chet Baker.

I was the one who uploaded that clip of Chet Baker playing Nardis, the Chet Baker Foundation took it down today, as well as permanently disabling my account. Too bad...

The de Valk book is indeed very good. I also recall seeing a book consisting solely (I think) of direct quotes from Baker himself, though I can't recall the name of the book now.

I'm a fan of his trio work in the period from the late 70s through the mid-80s. "Chet's Choice" has some great stuff on it -- some of it even funky, like "Love for Sale," if you can believe it. I also enjoy the intimate and compelling "Someday My Prince Will Come" and "The Touch of Your Lips" albums, both from about 1979. Worth seeking out.

Anent great stuff from Chet Baker's last years:

IMHO, the greatest small group recording of the generation just past (since 1975) is the magisterial "Concierto," organized by Jim Hall with Desmond, Sir Roland Hanna, Ron Carter, Steve Gadd, and Chet. For me, the supremely elegant track is "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To," with contrapuntal musings between Desmond and Baker, then Chet breaking loose with a perfectly crafted chorus "full of power and beauty" (that's a fragment of a line from my favorite movie, "All About Eve" -- but I digress).

The longest track, a jazz treatment of the second movement of Rodrigo's "Concierto de Aranjuez," is also magnificent Chet. He and everyone else on the date are at the height of their powers.They are all listening to and conversing musically with each other throughout, to a greater degree than I can remember hearing on any other recording by anyone.

(Concierto is available at this web address, among others: http://www.amazon.com/Concierto-Jim-Hall/dp/B000002AGY -- DR)

Thank you so much for your heartfelt tribute to a cherished legend! It is so comforting to see the truth about Chet so clearly stated in your wonderful homage to this great artist! Looking forward to Artt Frank's book, which will reveal more about the real Chet!

"Truth is generally the best vindication against slander." -- Abraham Lincoln

"We know the truth, not only by the reason, but by the heart."-- Blaise Pascal

Concerning Chet's death: a possible 'murderer' would have left the room by the window, as the door was locked from the inside. The 'murderer' would have done this using mountaineering gear, without leaving any trace in the room and without attracting any attention at this location, just opposite Amsterdam's central railway station.

(Mr. de Valk is Chet Baker's biographer -- DR)