Born Chesney Henry Baker Jr. on December 23 1929 in Yale Oklahoma, “Chet“ Baker grew up in a musical household that set the foundation for his future in jazz. His early exposure to music began in a church choir but it was his fascination with the trumpet that charted his path. Leaving school at 16 Baker enlisted in the Army, where he honed his skills as part of the 298th Army Band. After his discharge in 1951 he performed with various artists before being selected by the legendary Charlie Parker for a series of West Coast engagements, a pivotal moment that launched his career.
In 1952 Baker joined the Gerry Mulligan Quartet, where his lyrical solo on “My Funny Valentine” became iconic, contributing to the group’s critical and commercial success. Following Mulligan’s imprisonment on drug charges, Baker formed his own quartet solidifying his reputation as a leading jazz artist. His talent was widely recognized; in 1954, he outshone contemporaries like Miles Davis and Clifford Brown in the readers’ polls for Metronome and Down Beat magazines and earned acclaim as a top jazz vocalist.
Baker’s fame transcended music; his striking looks caught Hollywood’s attention leading to his acting debut in the 1955 war film Hell’s Horizon. However he declined a long-term studio contract favouring the itinerant life of a jazz musician. Alongside his soaring success came personal struggles, as Baker battled a lifelong drug addiction that led to multiple incarcerations and severe setbacks. A particularly devastating assault resulted in the loss of his teeth forcing him to take a job at a gas station while retraining his embouchure to play the trumpet again.
Determined to regain his footing Baker moved to New York and began recording and performing once more. By the late 1970s, he had relocated to Europe where he spent most of his remaining years. Despite his personal struggles this period marked a prolific phase in his recording career producing some of his most profound work until his untimely death in 1988.
Baker’s legacy is cemented in the evolution of cool jazz, a style he helped define in the early 1950s while recording for the L.A. based Pacific Jazz label under producer Dick Bock. This sophisticated, ultra-hip sound reached a new level of maturity with “Chet Baker Sings: It Could Happen to You”, his debut sessions for Riverside Records in 1958. Supported by a stellar ensemble including Kenny Drew (piano), Sam Jones (bass), and Philly Joe Jones (drums), with contributions from George Morrow and Dannie Richmond the album seamlessly blends Baker’s fluid laid-back West Coast delivery with the dynamic swing of his accompanists.
Baker’s understated yet deeply emotional interpretations of American Songbook standards shine throughout the record. Tracks like “Everything Happens to Me” and “You Make Me Feel So Young” reveal an aching vulnerability, while his playful scatting on “Do It the Hard Way” showcases his innovative approach to bridging vocals and instrumental performance. With his ethereal voice and expressive trumpet, Baker redefined cool jazz leaving behind a timeless legacy of sophistication and heartfelt artistry.
Cut directly from the original dedicated mono analog master tapes, through our unique all valve 1965 Ortofon / Lyrec vinyl cutting system in True Mono*. No equalisation, compression or any other processing was added during the cutting process.
All sleeve artwork made by hand and authentically letter-pressed on a 1963 Heidelberg SB.
This edition of 345 copies is priced at £395.00 UK pounds. Order here.
*Where everything in the chain from the tape head, the tape pre-amplifier, the cutting amplifier and the dedicated mono cutter head is a single channel pathway: This early technology avoids phase issues (smearing of the sound) that is frequently encountered when cutting with todays “dual” or “pseudo” mono cutting systems.
ERC sleeve (rear).
ERC sleeve (rear detail).
