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The fallen angel of West Coast jazz, Chet Baker (1929-88) won a huge popular following as trumpeter and vocalist while fighting a life-long battle with drugs. Geoffrey Smith surveys a troubled, iconic talent

1 hour

Last on

Sun 29 Sep 2019 00:00
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Charlie Parker And Chet Baker

    Irresistible You

    • Inglewood Jam.
    • JAZZ DOOR.
    • 2.

  • Gerry Mulligan, Bob Brookmeyer, Red Mitchell & Frank Isola

    Bernie's Tune

    • Jeru.
    • Proper.
    • 8.

  • Gerry Mulligan & Gerry Mulligan Quartet With Chet Baker

    Freeway

    • Jeru.
    • Proper.
    • 19.

  • Gerry Mulligan, Gerry Mulligan Quartet, Chet Baker, Carson Smith & Chico Hamilton

    My Funny Valentine

    • Jeru.
    • Proper.
    • 12.

  • Chet Baker

    My Funny Valentine

    • The Complete Original Chet Baker Sings Sessions.
    • Gambit.
    • 1.

  • Chet Baker, Russ Freeman, Carson Smith & Bob Neel

    Long Ago and Far Away

    • The Complete Original Chet Baker Sings Sessions.
    • Gambit.
    • 13.

  • Russ Freeman & Chet Baker, Russ Freeman, Chet Baker, Shelly Manne & Leroy Vinnegar

    Love Nest

    • Russ Freeman & Chet Baker Quartet.
    • Vogue.
    • 9.

  • Russ Freeman

    Summer Sketch

    • Russ Freeman & Chet Baker Quartet.
    • Vogue.
    • 3.

  • Chet Baker

    My Heart Stood Still

    • The Art of the Ballad.
    • Prestige.
    • 8.

  • Chet Baker

    Indian Summer

    • The Art of the Ballad.
    • Prestige.
    • 8.

  • Chet Baker

    Stairway To The Stars

    • The Art of the Ballad.
    • Prestige.
    • 7.

  • Chet Baker & Paul Desmond, Chet Baker, Hubert Laws, Paul Desmond, Ron Carter & Steve Gadd

    Tangerine

    • Together.
    • Epic.
    • 1.

  • Stan Getz And Chet Baker

    Dear Old Stockholm

    • Stockholm Concerts.
    • Verve.
    • 8.

Performers:


  Title:  Irresistible You  
  Artist: Charlie Parker and Chet Baker 
  Composers: Gene De Paul/Don Raye 
  Album Title: Inglewood Jam  
  Label:  Jazz Door Catalogue No: 1209 
  Duration: 03’02 
  Performers: Charlie Parker, alto saxophone; Chet Baker, trumpet; Sonny Criss, alto saxophone; Al Haig, piano; Harry Babasin, bass; Lawrence Marable, drums.

  Title:  Bernie's Tune
  Artist: Gerry Mulligan
  Composers: Bernie Miller 
  Album Title: Jeru 
  Label:  Proper Catalogue No: P1483 
  Duration: 02’50 
  Performers: Gerry Mulligan, baritone saxophone; Chet Baker, trumpet;  Bob Whitlock, bass; Chico Hamilton, drums.

  Title:  Freeway  
  Artist: Gerry Mulligan 
  Composers: Chet Baker 
  Album Title: Jeru 
  Label:  Proper  Catalogue No: P1481
  Duration: 02’46
  Performers: Gerry Mulligan, baritone saxophone; Chet Baker, trumpet; Bob Whitlock, bass; Chico Hamilton, drums.

  Title:  My Funny Valentine  
  Artist: Gerry Mulligan
  Composers: Rogers & Hart 
  Album Title: Jeru 
  Label:  Proper Catalogue No: P1481 
  Duration: 02’53 
  Performers: Chet Baker, trumpet; Gerry Mulligan. Baritone saxophone; Carson Smith, bass; Chico Hamilton, drums.

  Title:  My Funny Valentine
  Artist: Chet Baker 
  Composers: Rogers & Hart 
  Album Title: The Complete Original Chet Baker Sings Sessions 
  Label:  Gambit Records  Catalogue No: 69236 
  Duration: 02’15 
  Performers Chet Baker, vocals; Russ Freeman, piano; Carson Smith, bass; Bob Neel, drums.

  Title:  Long Ago and Far Away  
  Artist: Chet Baker 
  Composers: Gershwin & Kern 
  Album Title: The Complete Original Chet Baker Sings Sessions
  Label:  Gambit Records  Catalogue No: 69236
  Duration: 03’55 
  Performers: Chet Baker, trumpet & vocals; Russ Freeman, piano; Carson Smith, bass; Bob Neel, drums.

  Title:  Love Nest  
  Artist: Russ Freeman 
  Composers: Louis A Hirsch, Otto Harbach 
  Album Title: Russ Freeman Chet Baker Quartet 
  Label:  Vogue Catalogue No: LAE-12119 
  Duration: 04’14 
  Performers: Chet Baker, trumpet; Russ Freeman, piano; Leroy Vinnegar, bass; Shelly Manne, drums.

  Title:  Summer Sketch
  Artist: Russ Freeman 
  Composers: Russ Freeman 
  Album Title: Russ Freeman Chet Baker Quartet
  Label:  Vogue Catalogue No: LAE-12119 
  Duration: 04’36
  Performers: Chet Baker, trumpet; Russ Freeman, piano; Leroy Vinnegar, bass; Shelly Manne, drums.

  Title:  My Heart Stood Still 00:03:25
  Artist: Chet Baker 
  Composers: Rogers & Hart
  Album Title: The Art of the Ballad 
  Label:  Prestige  Catalogue No: PR CD 11011-2 
  Duration: 03’25
  Performers: Chet Baker, trumpet & vocals; Kenny Drew, piano; George Morrow, bass; Philly Joe Jones, drums.

  Title:  Indian Summer  
  Artist: Chet Baker 
  Composers: Victor Herbert 
  Album Title: The Art of the Ballad 
  Label:  Prestige Catalogue No: PR CD 11011-2 
  Duration: 05’12
  Performers: Chet Baker, trumpet; Renato Sellani, piano; Franco Serri, bass; Gene Victory, drums. 
 
  Title:  Stairway to the Stars  
  Artist: Chet Baker 
  Composers: Parish/Malneck/Signorelli 
  Album Title: The Art of the Ballad 
  Label:  Prestige   Catalogue No: PR CD 11011-2 
  Duration: 04’40  
   Performers: Chet Baker, flugelhorn; George Coleman, tenor saxophone; Kirk Lightsey, piano; Herman Wright, bass; Roy Brooks, drums.

  Title:  Tangerine  
  Performers: Chet Baker and Paul Desmond 
  Composers: Johnny Mercer, Victor Schertzinger 
  Album Title: Together 
  Label: Epic Catalogue No: 472984-2 
  Duration: 05’26
  Performers: Chet Baker, trumpet; Paul Desmond, alto saxophone; Bob James, electric piano; Ron Carter, bass; Steve Gadd, drums.
 
  Title:  Dear Old Stockholm  
  Artist: Stan Getz and Chet Baker 
  Composers: Stan Getz & Pete Jolly 
  Album Title: Stockholm Concerts 
  Label:  Verve Catalogue No: 5375552 
  Duration: 05’20 
  Performers: Stan Getz, tenor saxophone; Chet Baker, trumpet; Jim McNeely, piano; George Mraz, bass; Victor Lewis, drums.  

 

Broadcasts

  • Sun 7 Aug 2016 00:00
    BBC Radio 3
  • Sun 29 Sep 2019 00:00
    BBC Radio 3

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