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← Artists jazz · cool jazz · trumpet
Chet Baker jazz cool jazz trumpet vocal jazz
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About Chesney Henry "Chet" Baker Jr. (December 23, 1929 – May 13, 1988) was an American jazz trumpeter and vocalist, known for his contributions to the cool jazz movement. He gained recognition in the 1950s for albums such as "Chet Baker Sings" (1954) and "It Could Happen to You" (1958), and was often noted for his lyrical trumpet playing and vocal style.
Baker was born in Yale, Oklahoma, and raised in a musical household. His father, Chesney Baker Sr., was a Western swing guitarist, and his mother, Vera Moser, was a pianist. The family moved to Glendale, California, in 1940. Baker began singing in a church choir and later took up the trombone, switching to the trumpet at age 13. He briefly studied music at Glendale High School before joining the United States Army in 1946, where he performed in the 298th Army Band in Berlin. After leaving the Army, he studied music theory at El Camino College but re-enlisted and joined the Sixth Army Band, performing in clubs in San Francisco before his discharge in 1951.
Baker performed with Vido Musso and Stan Getz before joining the Gerry Mulligan Quartet in 1952. With Mulligan, he developed a style emphasizing counterpoint rather than unison lines. "My Funny Valentine" became a signature piece for him. Baker led several quartets and released albums between 1953 and 1956, winning reader polls in magazines such as Metronome and DownBeat. In 1954, Pacific Jazz Records released "Chet Baker Sings", which featured his vocals alongside trumpet performances.
Baker toured Europe in 1955 and recorded "Chet Baker in Europe" and collaborations including accompaniment for Caterina Valente.
Source: Last.fm
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