Relaxed West Coast Jazz for easy listening: Chet Baker in NYC
I almost saw Chet. Unfortunately, he fell out of a window in Amsterdam a few days earlier, and my concert visit didn’t happen.
Intro
Chet Baker was at the beginning of my jazz journey. I discovered him on a recording with Paul Desmond and was immediately fascinated by his warm and airy trumpet sound. After that, I searched intensively for his records and discovered many other facets.
I even had a ticket for a concert. Unfortunately, it fell out of a window in Amsterdam two weeks before.
Chet Baker and Cool Jazz, West Coast Jazz
Cool Jazz / West Coast Jazz is a modern and melodic form of Jazz. Originating after bebop in New York, on the East Coast, early representatives of this style were Miles Davis and Gil Evans. A highly recommended recording from this phase is Birth of Cool with Miles Davis, Lee Konitz, Gerry Mulligan and others.
On the West Coast, a variant often referred to as West Coast Jazz established itself. Important representatives were Chet Baker, Chico Hamilton and others.
The recording Chet Baker in New York
This recording is a classic of West Coast Jazz. Chet does not sing on this recording. The other musicians are Al Haig (piano), Paul Chambers (bass) and Philly Joe Jones (drums). Johnny Griffin, tenor saxophone, is also present on three tracks.
The recording was made in 1958, Chet was 29 and the problems he later had to deal with did not yet exist.
And what is my favorite song? All of them! Soft winds even a little bit more.
What else?
Many people admire Chet Backer for his singing. He has a fragile and eroticizing voice. That’s why most women like him. The recording Chet Baker Sings is highly recommended.
I have never heard Chet Baker live myself. But my trumpet teacher did. Chet had a set of teeth. The trumpet teacher told me that Chet always took the bit out when he sang.
The cover photographs are by William Claxton.
My recommendations
Just listen to this recording on your preferred medium. Vinyl is, of course, the coolest.
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(c) Copyright 2025 photos and text Walter Gilgen. All rights reserved.