Chet Baker: His Life and Music [Paperback] Review

Chet Baker: his life and times. J. de Valk
De Valk's new book on ChetBaker is both an excellent introduction to this musician for the neophyteand an invaluable overview of his music and life for the more experiencedfan.
Baker's life, in its broader outlines, reads almost like a romanticHollywood portrayal of a jazz musician.Highly photogenic, addicted toheroin and cocaine, purveyor of a dreamy, lyrical sound, yet largelyself-taught, Baker lived what the general public may think of as thestereotypical jazz life of the 1950's.His highly lyrical sound grabbedmany, reaching out and converting listeners on a first hearing. Fame cameall too quickly, but then vanished with even greater rapidity.De Valktreats his subject with great objectivity, surveying the harrowing ups anddowns, and quashing a few of the legends that sprang up around such afigure, especially the circumstances of his death.
Essential is thetwo-part discography in which de Valk overviews most, if not all of Baker'sknown recordings.The first part, "a selective discography" willprove the most important part of the book for younger fans as de Valkdetails and offers comment on many of Baker's most essential recordings. The second part, a full discography, lists all recordings and dates,subjected to a five-star rating system.
A choice selection of photos,including reproductions of many album covers, furthers the book's coverage. See in particular the eerily prescient shot of Baker practicing in awindow ledge on p. 195.

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