Chet Baker

One of the most popular exponents of the West Coast’s ‘cool jazz’ style, Chet Baker seemingly had it all. He played trumpet as well as any, sang with an understated charm, and looked like a movie star. No wonder that he was one of the biggest stars in 50s jazz.

As an introduction, it’s hard to go past 1956’s Chet Baker Sings, a relaxed and low-key classic. If you like your jazz sans vocals, Chet (1959) is a delight not least because the trumpeter is joined by superb pianist Bill Evans and guitarist Kenny Burrell. Like Evans, Baker struggled with serious drug addiction for much of his life, one result being that his catalogue is uneven; it is a stark truth that sometimes jazz musicians made recordings simply to fund their habits. Having said that, Chet Is Back—recorded after his release from prison on drug-related charges—is a fine album from the early 60s.