There have been so many negative and malicious things said about Chet Baker after he
died, both in the verbal as well as in print by those who actually never knew the length,
breadth, width or depth of just who this quiet, introspective genius was really all about.
Unfortunately, Chet isn’t around to respond to these people- but I am, and I shall respond for
him.
For all that’s been written and said about him in the negative vein- I was truly blessed to
have known the other side of the man that the world knew nothing about. The quiet,
compassionate, introspective, and at times, “Christ-like” way he treated the street people,
homeless and less fortunate.
The critics and writers either didn’t want or care to take the time to look deeper into the heart
of the man, Chet Baker. Instead, they chose to content themselves with focusing more on his
physical weaknesses rather than on the true beauty coming from within…and therein lies the
great loss and error because either they could not, or chose not to really listen to hear the
GOD given beauty which emanated from whatever brand name of trumpet or flugelhorn Chet
chose to play.
In the month of July of 1966, Chet was viciously attacked outside the jazz club he’d just left,
and was brutally and severely beaten by five hoodlums resulting in the loss of four of his
upper front teeth. Taken to the nearest hospital by two Good Samaritans, he was examined
by three different medical doctors and a neurologist and was informed he had suffered
permanent trigeminal nerve damage to both sides of his face and jaw-line, and in all
probability, would never play trumpet again.
When it was learned that he could no longer play, he was deserted by all those he thought
were his friends. However, with the help, love, compassion and understanding of his loving
wife Carol, and myself, who would become his closest friend, favorite drummer and
confidant, Chet did, over a period of agonizing months of pain and struggle, overcome the
near-impossible odds, and relearned how to play and master the trumpet all over again.
Truly a miraculous feat! He continued to practice and mature, and in so doing, developed a
style and tone so unique and distinctive that it set him apart from all other trumpet players.
The proverbial statement once spoken by alto sax Bop immortal, Charlie “Bird” Parker who
said, “There’s no way you can really play with pain unless you lived through it,” was painfully
lived and brought to life by Chet Baker.
I can think of no other players, other than Charlie Parker and Art Pepper where the
proverbial statement, “The man is the music and the music is the man,” can more truthfully,
appropriately and dramatically be applied to than that of Chet Baker. The most hauntingly
lyrical player in the history of jazz-including all, barring none!!!!!..........to be continued
Artt Frank
died, both in the verbal as well as in print by those who actually never knew the length,
breadth, width or depth of just who this quiet, introspective genius was really all about.
Unfortunately, Chet isn’t around to respond to these people- but I am, and I shall respond for
him.
For all that’s been written and said about him in the negative vein- I was truly blessed to
have known the other side of the man that the world knew nothing about. The quiet,
compassionate, introspective, and at times, “Christ-like” way he treated the street people,
homeless and less fortunate.
The critics and writers either didn’t want or care to take the time to look deeper into the heart
of the man, Chet Baker. Instead, they chose to content themselves with focusing more on his
physical weaknesses rather than on the true beauty coming from within…and therein lies the
great loss and error because either they could not, or chose not to really listen to hear the
GOD given beauty which emanated from whatever brand name of trumpet or flugelhorn Chet
chose to play.
In the month of July of 1966, Chet was viciously attacked outside the jazz club he’d just left,
and was brutally and severely beaten by five hoodlums resulting in the loss of four of his
upper front teeth. Taken to the nearest hospital by two Good Samaritans, he was examined
by three different medical doctors and a neurologist and was informed he had suffered
permanent trigeminal nerve damage to both sides of his face and jaw-line, and in all
probability, would never play trumpet again.
When it was learned that he could no longer play, he was deserted by all those he thought
were his friends. However, with the help, love, compassion and understanding of his loving
wife Carol, and myself, who would become his closest friend, favorite drummer and
confidant, Chet did, over a period of agonizing months of pain and struggle, overcome the
near-impossible odds, and relearned how to play and master the trumpet all over again.
Truly a miraculous feat! He continued to practice and mature, and in so doing, developed a
style and tone so unique and distinctive that it set him apart from all other trumpet players.
The proverbial statement once spoken by alto sax Bop immortal, Charlie “Bird” Parker who
said, “There’s no way you can really play with pain unless you lived through it,” was painfully
lived and brought to life by Chet Baker.
I can think of no other players, other than Charlie Parker and Art Pepper where the
proverbial statement, “The man is the music and the music is the man,” can more truthfully,
appropriately and dramatically be applied to than that of Chet Baker. The most hauntingly
lyrical player in the history of jazz-including all, barring none!!!!!..........to be continued
Artt Frank
