Moderators Lee Knight Posted October 16, 2008 Moderators Share Posted October 16, 2008 Oh man... I haven't heard this album in such a long time. I've got a gift certificate burning a hole in my pocket and it hits me. Chet Baker. For those of you unaware, Chet Baker was a West Coast trumpeter in the 50's and 60's. Part of the cool jazz scene. Think, Kind of Blue by Miles. Now add a touch of melancholy and soften the attack. Then... make the setting sunny California. You should be happy... but you're not quite. And that sadness has a beauty to it. Disillusioned even. That's Chet Baker. He had James Dean good looks but later died a spent, sad junkie. 20 years ago or so. Well documented in the fabulous film Let's Get Lost. The thing is, though he is one of my favorite trumpet players, he's also one of my favorite vocalists. His version of every standard on this album, is the standard. Easy to listen to, yet deep with complex and very real emotion. My Funny Valentine. The Gershwin's But Not For Me. And the achingly beautiful Look For the Silver Lining. This album is perfect. Really. Stay in bed Sunday morning with you SO, the paper, a coffee, and Chet Baker Sings. I love this album. When he sings, "Stay little valentine... stay." That pause is so real. He moves me, man. So, if you've been wanting something different, something unique, and something of outstanding quality, may I recommend Chet Baker Sings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members halfnote Posted October 17, 2008 Members Share Posted October 17, 2008 Long have been, generally, aware of Baker as a jazz figeure.Didn't know he sang. One confesses that it would be nice to know what Miles, or others sounded like as vocalists, esp considering what it's like just to type accurately... Why's CB more important than Mel Torme or Ella (laugh if you want but Torme"s a very skilled vocalist!!!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Lee Knight Posted October 17, 2008 Author Moderators Share Posted October 17, 2008 Why's CB more important than Mel Torme or Ella (laugh if you want but Torme"s a very skilled vocalist!!!) I don't think he's more important, I just dig him. And funny you should mention Torme. Baker sounds a little like him minus the vibrato. I just love hearing a singer of standards who really knows music. Baker surely does, as did Torme. Sarah Vaughn, Ellla. All had a deep understanding of music. They're a lot of fun to listen to because of that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members boosh Posted October 17, 2008 Members Share Posted October 17, 2008 Have I ever told you guys my Chet Baker Story? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members spokenward Posted October 17, 2008 Members Share Posted October 17, 2008 Have I ever told you guys my Chet Baker Story? It's a good one. You should tell it again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Lee Knight Posted October 17, 2008 Author Moderators Share Posted October 17, 2008 I think I recall now. You and your dad were walking by his place in Amsterdam and he played happy birthday for you? Is that right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Music Calgary Posted October 17, 2008 Members Share Posted October 17, 2008 Long have been, generally, aware of Baker as a jazz figeure.Didn't know he sang. He acted too. He was somewhat of a pop heartthrob at times during his career. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members boosh Posted October 17, 2008 Members Share Posted October 17, 2008 I think I recall now. You and your dad were walking by his place in Amsterdam and he played happy birthday for you? Is that right? My dad took me to Amsterdam Centre ,..to Chet's Hotel just to show me where a legend resided and Chet was there sitting in a window playing and singing My funny Valentine for me and my dad and a few other people who passed by,....... Awesome memory!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members spokenward Posted October 17, 2008 Members Share Posted October 17, 2008 Let's Get Lost was never released on DVD was it, Lee? I saw a rough cut of what had to be Let's Get Lost but I under the impression that it was going to be released as one of the Eastwood funded jazz bios. Looking at the credits over on imdb, I think they must have passed on it. It certainly was a disturbing movie. I saw the movie at a screening with a guy I used to work with who is now an 85 year old trumpet player who is still playing out. Oh how he hated Chet's watery tone. Oh how he hated his intonation. I kind of wondered if all trumpet players hate Chet Baker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Lee Knight Posted October 17, 2008 Author Moderators Share Posted October 17, 2008 Let's Get Lost was never released on DVD was it, Lee?I saw a rough cut of what had to be Let's Get Lost but I under the impression that it was going to be released as one of the Eastwood funded jazz bios. Looking at the credits over on imdb, I think they must have passed on it. It certainly was a disturbing movie. I saw the movie at a screening with a guy I used to work with who is now an 85 year old trumpet player who is still playing out. Oh how he hated Chet's watery tone. Oh how he hated his intonation. I kind of wondered if all trumpet players hate Chet Baker. I don't know if Let's Get Lost went to DVD. I saw in its 1st run just after you saw it I guess. Do trumpet players hate him? I wasn't aware of that. I know a lot of very good singers who love his playing. His singing seemed to inform his playing and likewise the other way around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members halfnote Posted October 19, 2008 Members Share Posted October 19, 2008 OK, nw I get it, sorta...Tell me though, whats better Chet's singing or his trpt playing...?Is he more expressive delivering direct lyric stroies or more reflective/less precise musical stoies. Also, for those like me who don't have the details, are there examples of him performing the same material ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members whurly Posted October 20, 2008 Members Share Posted October 20, 2008 Chet Baker Sings is a great collection. I've discovered and fallen in love with many standards thanks to that album. Another I'd recommend is 'It Could Happen To You' (with a real heartthrob cover). As for the trumpet playing, his stuff with Gerry Mulligan is really good. My favorite is their version of Bernie's Tune. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Lee Knight Posted October 20, 2008 Author Moderators Share Posted October 20, 2008 Yeah, he's really a trumpeter he happens to have a cool little niche as a singer. Had. But it's a pretty frickin' cool little niche. So, he's a great trumpet player. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members T-Pot Posted October 21, 2008 Members Share Posted October 21, 2008 Chet had the blues, that's for sure. Love his melancholic playing. The singing is a bit TOO frail to my taste - but it's real, from the heart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pink floyd cramer Posted October 21, 2008 Members Share Posted October 21, 2008 I've been listening to Chet Baker Sings today and it's really enjoyable- haven't googled it for the credits yet, sounds a little like Bill Evans on piano though. I think Steve Miller took after the Chet Baker vocal style for his "Born 2 B Blue ". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members blue2blue Posted October 21, 2008 Members Share Posted October 21, 2008 Long have been, generally, aware of Baker as a jazz figeure. Didn't know he sang. One confesses that it would be nice to know what Miles, or others sounded like as vocalists, esp considering what it's like just to type accurately... Why's CB more important than Mel Torme or Ella (laugh if you want but Torme"s a very skilled vocalist!!!) I don't think you want to hear Miles singing. Have you ever heard him talk? Neo-folkie David Wilcox has a very neat little song called "Chet Baker's Unsung Swan Song" about that fateful morning when Chet nodded off while sitting in his window and fell outta this mortal coil. Rhapsody subscriber's can look it up or hear it here -- non-subscribers can hear 30 seconds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members halfnote Posted October 23, 2008 Members Share Posted October 23, 2008 I dunno, Miles as vocalist could'nt be much worse (if any!) than, the dulcet tones of Tom Waits...& prolly would have greater musical appeal. Davis ws known for his succintness, after all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Music Calgary Posted October 23, 2008 Members Share Posted October 23, 2008 David Wilcox has a very neat little song called "Chet Baker's Unsung Swan Song" about that fateful morning when Chet nodded off while sitting in his window and fell. Junkies don't just nod off out of windows. Junkies are experts at finding non-injurious locations/positions to nod off in... They also don't commit suicide with a roomful of drugs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Lee Knight Posted October 23, 2008 Author Moderators Share Posted October 23, 2008 I've been listening to Chet Baker Sings today and it's really enjoyable- haven't googled it for the credits yet, sounds a little like Bill Evans on piano though. I think Steve Miller took after the Chet Baker vocal style for his "Born 2 B Blue ". It does sound like Evans. It's not though. It's Russ Freeman. I really like Freeman's playing on this album. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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