It was the recent biopic movie 'Born to be Blue' about Chet Baker that inspired us to put on his live Album from 1964 and 1979 concerts (you can see it/hear it all here on the YouTube link below). Ethan Hawke plays Baker and set in 1966 when he first fell into a life of Heroin.
Chesney 'Chet' Baker from Oklahoma, who died in 1988, had a life in and out of prison due to his drug addiction.
The son of a professional guitar playing father and pianist mother, he brought the Trumpet and soft, West Coast cool Jazz, to a new, extraordinary level. Playing with legends like Stan Getz and notably, Charlie Parker, his breakthrough came with Gerry Mulligan (himself a jailed drug user) in 1952 especially with "My funny Valentine".
In 1957 he began using Heroin (until his death) which caused him to be jailed in Italy and deported from many countries. It also caused him many debt problems and a savage beating.
He died from what was seemingly, a fall from a Hotel room in Amsterdam, a drug induced accident. He had become a USA exile spending most of his life in Europe and his death typified his life. His was 59.
You could pick any album and fall in love with it. These concerts, recorded in Belgium and Norway 15 years apart, are just simply beautiful. The interplay of the Band in 1964 is so tight it's a wonder and this is a great introduction to a great Jazz man. Really stunning work that had all the crew in Streamabout enraptured. Here it is.
Previous "listen to's" you'll also find on this blog (you can search them in the Search top left on the Blog)......The Stone Roses 'Stone Roses'; Joe Jackson 'I'm the Man'; Oasis 'Morning Glory'; Bob Dylan 'At The Budokan'; Van "It's too late to stop now Volume 2/3/4"; Air 'Moon Safari'; Talking Heads 'Stop Making Sense'; Lynyrd Skynyrd 'One for the road'; Marvin Gaye 'Whats Goin on'; Mercury Rev 'Deserters Songs'; Dave Matthews 'Crash'; Beyonce 'Lemonade'; Prince 'Sign O the times'; Daft Punk 'Random Access Memories'; Amy Winehouse 'Back to Black';Police 'Outlandos D'Amour'; Michael Jackson 'Off the Wall'; Carole King 'Tapestry'; Beatles 'Red Album'; Sex Pistols 'Never mind the Bollocks'; Sam Cooke 'Live at Harlem Square'; The Doors 'LA Woman'; Thin Lizzy 'Live & Dangerous'; Kendrick Lamarr 'Butterfly'; Aretha Franklin 'Amazing Grace'; Clapton '461'; Massive Attack 'Blue Lines'; The Clash 'London Calling'; Chris Isaak 'At The Filmore'; Bob Dylan 'Street Legal'; Bad Company 'Straight Shooter'; Jackson Browne 'Love is Strange'; Lou Reed 'Transformer'; Steely Dan 'AJA'; Stones 'Black+Blue'; Stephen Bishop 'Careless'; Nils Lofgren 'Night after Night'; Mike Oldfield 'Tubular Bells'; Neil Young 'Harvest'; Led Zep '4'; David Bowie 'David Live'; Van Morrison 'It's too late to stop now'; Wings 'Band on the Run'; Rod Stewart 'Atlantic Crossing'; Ryan Adams 'Heartbreaker'; Santana 'Essential'; Bob Dylan 'Desire'; Roxy Music 'For your pleasure'; Bob Marley 'Legend'; Stephen Fretwell 'Magpie'; James Taylor 'Sweet Baby James'; Deep Purple 'Machine Head'; Springsteen 'Darkness on the edge of town'; Leon Bridges 'Coming Home'; Eagles 'Hotel California'; Jungle; Aretha 'Soul Queen'; Neil Young 'After the Goldrush' ; Zappa 'Overnite Sensation'; Fleetwood Mac 'Rumours'; Keith Jarrett 'Koln Concert'; Doobies 'Southbound'; Stevie Earle 'I feel Alright'; Tom Waits 'Closing Time'; Pink Floyd 'Dark Side'; Van Morrison 'Moondance'; Eric Church 'Caught in the Act'; Randy Newman 'Little Criminals'; Elton John 'Madman across the water'; Patti Smith 'Horses'; Doobies 'Captain and Me'; Steely Dan 'Can't Buy a Thrill'.
