An american treasure caught up in the vices of narcotics. Ethan hawke will play chet baker in born to be blue the. Jazz historian david gelly described the promise of bakers early career as james dean, sinatra, and bix, rolled. Jazz historian dave gelly described the promise of bakers early career as james. Flirting with this disaster became me the final days of. Buy at the forum theatre complete recordings 2 cd digipack edition by chet baker on blue sounds store. Baker earned much attention and critical praise through the 1950s, particularly for albums featuring his vocals chet baker sings, it could happen to you.
Robert budreau already made a short on bakers death the deaths of chet baker, and this fulllength dramatization will allow him to tell the mans complete story. A short film starring stephen mchattie, the lead in pontypool. It certainly makes me curious to see what robert budreau does with a full. Chet baker was a main exponent from the western coast college of great jazz in the first and mid50s. The trumpeter and singer was slated to perform at a concert in laren, holland. Jun 24, 2019 chet and his music see more ideas about chet baker, jazz blues and jazz musicians. People who have passed on that were on countrys family. Born in oklahoma and reared in california from age 10, baker began playing. Born to be blue is a 2015 internationally coproduced drama film directed, produced and written by robert budreau. Ethan hawke channels jazz great chet baker in born to be blue. From 1978 until his death in 1988, baker lived and played almost exclusively in europe. Born to be blue starring ethan hawke is a reimagining of jazz trumpeter chet baker s life in the 60s. The description is so complete that when gavin quotes ruth young on the 1956 album chet baker sings, with my funny valentine at the heart of it none of.
Exploring the different perspectives of chet bakers final moments before death. He was a cult figure whose wellpublicized struggles with drug addiction curtailed a promising career. Budreau, who crafted a bakerfocused short before this feature, opens in 1954, in the midst of bakers whirlwind ascent. As ethan hawke plays chet baker in born to be blue, he talks about perfection versus charisma and the perils of. Some have called chet baker the james dean of music, so much promise, unfulfilled. Like a trumpeter, he previously a generally restrained, romantic playing design and he captivated interest beyond jazz for his photogenic appears and performing. The deaths of chet baker 2009 an exploration of the mysteries surrounding the death of jazz legend chet baker who was found dead below an amsterdam hotel window in 1988. May 14, 1988 chet baker, a jazz trumpet player who was also a whispervoiced, romantic singer, died friday after falling from the secondfloor window of a hotel in amsterdam.
Burrell and baker also collaborate on a moving rendition of september song. But his profession was marred by medication addiction. In born to be blue, chet baker gets lost and found the boston. Chet baker at the forum theatre complete recordings 2cd. Facts that any jazz fan seeing the film would already know. Documentary on the life of jazz trumpeter and drug addict chet baker. Chet baker net worth short bio, age, height, weight.
Ethan hawke talked about his chet baker movie for so long it seemed he might age out of ever getting to play the troubled jazz giant on the screen. Now canadian filmmaker robert budreau who previously made a 2009 short film on bakers death titled the deaths of chet baker is writing and directing a film about bakers late 1970s comeback, starring the resurgent ethan hawke as the jazz icon. Jul 20, 2016 he was the hypnotic trumpeter with a divine voice who lost it all to heroin. He was the hypnotic trumpeter with a divine voice who lost it all to heroin. From his 2009 short, the deaths of chet baker, to his new feature, budreau has been transfixed by this enigmatic figure. Baker earned much attention and critical praise through the 1950s, particularly for albums featuring his vocals. Nov 25, 2011 scenes from the life of chet baker by jeffrey st. Filming born to be blue, in which he portrays jazz icon chet baker, the challenge was largely for my costar, carmen. It was shown in the special presentations section of the 2015 toronto international film festival. Rent born to be blue 2016 on dvd and bluray dvd netflix.
Chet baker, american jazz trumpeter and vocalist noted for the plaintive, fragile tone of both his playing and singing. On the eve of a new biopic starring ethan hawke, heres an. This is one of the best books on a jazz musicians life since dorothy baker wrote young man with a horn. The deaths of chet baker the deaths of chet baker 2009. Aug 17, 2019 chet baker was a main exponent from the western coast college of great jazz in the first and mid50s. This new film essentially invents a midpoint between bakers heartthrob heyday and the broken man in webers dreamlike documentary. Vimeo is an amazing video service for original creative work, but its also a company with real human employees. New films about miles davis and chet baker show how difficult it is to bring the art and charisma of singular performers to the screen.
An exploration of the mysteries surrounding the death of jazz legend chet baker who was found dead below an amsterdam hotel window in 1988. He preferred pursuing his own personal disaster, his addiction, rather than nurturing his talent. Miles davis and chet baker films show dangers and rewards. Apr 06, 2016 new films about miles davis and chet baker show how difficult it is to bring the art and charisma of singular performers to the screen. Chet baker was born in yale, oklahoma, on december 23, 1929. April 22, and ethan hawke as chet baker in robert budreaus born to be blue, opening friday. On the eve of a new biopic starring ethan hawke, heres an introduction to the. In his excellent liner notes for the best of chet baker sings, will friedwald explains the circumstances and chronology of the recording sessions of chet baker with his quartet, and mentions that the present cd the best of chet baker sings indead contains all the original master takes of chet baker singing with his quartet. At last, more than ten years later, a chet baker monument is to be erected outside of the prins hendrik hotel in amsterdam, the netherlands, where the trumpetplayer and singer died on may 1988 after falling from his hotel room onto the pavement in front of the hotel. May 25, 2016 why i give a hoot for competing dead jazz musician movies miles ahead and born to be blue immortalise miles davis and link him to chet baker.
The title is derived from the song lets get lost by jimmy mchugh and frank loesser from the 1943 film happy go lucky, which baker recorded for pacific records. Chet baker historical profile dumbo feather magazine. Aug 21, 2009 i was watching lets get lost, the fine chet baker bio film, and was reminded of what great singer he was. From the early stuff in paris 1955, barclay records to all the great pacific jazz recordings with russ freeman et al that helped define the west coast sound, so beautifully photographed and chronicled by the great william claxton.
You dont want to be near ethan hawke when hes learning to play trumpet. Born to be blue, portrait of a trumpeter as a heroin addict ethan hawke as chet baker in born to be blue, a film directed by robert budreau. As a son of musicloving parents, chet started singing in the local church choir and tried playing trombone before he later started playing trumpet at the age of years. I read chet bakers book, as though i had wings, and was anxious to read chet baker. The jazz legends life offers plenty of material for a great movie a heroin addict whose bad. As ethan hawke plays chet baker in born to be blue, he talks about perfection. But boyhood and the oscar nomination that followed allowed hawke and filmmaker robert budreau to. Why i give a hoot for competing dead jazz musician movies. When chet stars in a film about himself, a romance heats up with his costar, the enigmatic jane carmen ejogo.
With the annual celebration of jazz and blues in rockland county known as nyack jazz week just around the corner, its only fitting to talk about one of the founders of the bebop music stylemovement, chet baker. Hawke, eternally boyish, full of charm, is a perfect choice because he has the. Chet baker american musician and vocalist britannica. Nov 03, 2009 when chet baker sang the line in almost blue flirting with this disaster became me, its hard not to see the resonance with his own life. At the age of 11, he moved to california along with his family in the year 1940. An exploration of the mysteries surrounding the death of jazz legend chet. Chet baker, a jazz trumpet player who was also a whispervoiced, romantic singer, died friday after falling from the secondfloor window of a hotel in amsterdam. His gorgeous flat tone with no vibrato, and laid back phrasing really put him up there with the great singers of the day imo. Chet baker, in full chesney henry baker, born december 23, 1929, yale, oklahoma, u. Chet is a good place to hear baker s special way with the horn, and is made even more attractive with the presence and contributions of top jazz artists. Miles davis and chet baker films show dangers and rewards of. Chet baker chet baker sings and plays from the film lets. Chet baker is a fictional character from the deaths of chet baker. The trailer reveals that parts will be in blackandwhite, which may be an homage to the 1988 documentary lets get lost.
December 23, 1929 may, 1988 was an american jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist and vocalist. Trumpeter chet baker, accompanied by pianist michel graillier and bassist jean louis rassinfosse, covers a lot of emotional ground on this european date. Tragic movie about the life and times of chet baker. Chet baker sextet chet baker sextet releases discogs. When chet baker sang the line in almost blue flirting with this disaster became me, its hard not to see the resonance with his own life. Rent born to be blue 2016 starring ethan hawke and carmen ejogo on dvd and bluray. With this film, we are locked, a little dispiritingly, into a sombre narrative from the outset. The title is derived from the song lets get lost by jimmy mchugh and frank loesser from the 1943 film happy go. Chet baker page in fuller up, the dead musician directory. The film is about american jazz musician chet baker, portrayed by hawke.
Chet baker chet baker sings and plays from the film let. Production is shelved when chet s past comes back to haunt him and it appears he may never play music again but jane challenges. In it, baker is seen performing mere month before his. The deaths of chet baker 2009 directed by robert budreau. Chet baker at the forum theatre complete recordings 2. December 23, 1929 may, 1988 was an american jazz trumpeter and vocalist.
Jul 02, 20 exploring the different perspectives of chet baker s final moments before death. With the annual celebration of jazz and blues in rockland county known as nyack jazz week just around the corner, its only fitting to talk about one of the founders of the bebop music stylemovement, chet baker, and how the loss of his teeth and need for dentures impacted his career. The book was to come out in june but seems to have been delayed a few months but the wait was worth it. Bird is jamming on stage, a press of tens of other eager horn players waiting to audition, and charlie parker puts his horn down from his mouth to ask simply if chet baker is there, in that crowd. A blog supreme bakers legacy may be debated, but his artistry shouldnt be. When baker died in 1988 at a wellworn 58, he left behind a messy mythic legacy, enough for. Music chet baker is a cataloged instance, composition. Find films and movies featuring chet baker on allmovie. Its 25 years today since chet baker was found dead on an amsterdam pavement, apparently having fallen from the window of his hotel room.
May, 20 its 25 years today since chet baker was found dead on an amsterdam pavement, apparently having fallen from the window of his hotel room. Lets get lost is a 1988 american documentary film about the turbulent life and career of jazz trumpeter chet baker written and directed by bruce weber. I was watching lets get lost, the fine chet baker bio film, and was reminded of what great singer he was. A very short film that simply imagines three possible last moments of chet bakers life. Police concluded that his death had been caused by head injuries consistent with a fall from 30ft or so. This lp is highlighted by a passionate version of love for sale, and a surprisingly melancholy bye, bye blackbird, and a.
703 456 909 642 517 973 43 15 1347 1507 503 14 139 205 710 1283 1528 1 370 1453 458 1031 65 724 1380 60 1096 994 109 213 1542 544 372 1416 863 144 772 147 1387 69 1452 702 349 532 1010 708 359 1040 1164 132