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JazzWords > Chet Baker
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Chet Baker gave us some of the most beautiful trumpet and fluegelhorn lines ever played. In his
1997 memoir "As Though I Had Wings," (released posthumously) he tells part of his bittersweet
tale.
Baker lived a similar life to the one depicted by Art Pepper in his autobiography "Straight Life,"
except Baker missed most of the hard jail time Pepper suffered by living in Europe. Baker seems
also to have been more comfortable in society than Pepper was. He apologizes for nothing, and
seems astonished that he's been able to navigate through some of the experiences in the book.
The book is short (118 pages with a two-page mini-discography), and inexpensive (less than $8 paperback
at many booksellers). It's an enjoyable read if you know anything about Baker's career, if only
because you won't believe how vividly he can recall some of the places and scrapes in a life of using
drugs His writing style is never staccato, but is consistent with his playing style - smooth,
elegant and somewhat detached. The tone may leave some out in the cold.
As a father, I wonder how Baker ever had a relationship with his children or his wives, since he seemingly
was always running from or to something. He recalls the birth of his sons fondly enough (Chetie and
Dean), but births, deaths and fixing are told in such a nonchalant fashion that it's difficult to get
really excited about anything. But you can marvel at his ability to keep it mostly together.
I suppose (only Baker's wives know) how little Baker's children must have known him, since he seemed to be
always gone to play in a new concert, have a new girlfriend, find a new connection, get a new fix, and
outfox the police.
Baker played some incredible concerts even up to the end (his final recording was made just two
weeks before his death).
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