ON FILM AND LIVE JAZZ SESSION
With a fascinating series of interviews with friends, family, associates and lovers, interspersed with film from Baker's earlier life and some modern-day performances. This film intercuts footage from the 1950s, when he was part of West Coast Cool, and from his last years.
We see the young Baker, he of the beautiful face, in California and in Italy, where he appeared in at least one movie and at least one jail cell (for drug possession). We also see the aged Baker, detached, indifferent, his face a ruin.
This is an atmospheric black-and-white portrait of a jazz trumpet player, an exemplar of West Coast "cool jazz" in the age when rapid-fire bebop was hot, whose life, career and face were ruined by his various addictions. This outstanding film was nominated for the Best Documentary Oscar in 1988
LIVE JAZZ GIG
To compliment the documentary, we bring you an intimate musical portrait of Chet Baker using the drumless quartet format that he gravitated toward in his latter performances and giving a chance to explore Chet’s music and style in a quietly focused way; especially given the artistic weight of the four performers.
On vocals, following his highly enjoyable contribution to last year’s Ronnie Scott’s evening, international vocal star Ian Shaw returns pairing with the peerless virtuosity of Steve Fishwick on trumpet; the jazz aficionados among you will surely agree that no trumpet/vocal couple are better qualified to explore Chet’s musical legacy. Complimenting these two giants is the towering talent of guitarist Phil Robson; after proving an outstanding leader of contemporary guitar players in the UK, Phil spent the best part of the last decade living and working in New York City establishing himself as a world class improvising guitarist before settling in the West of Ireland. The masterful undertones of bassist Andrew Cleyndert (who also produces this session) return to complete this musical tribute to the truly iconic Chet Baker. Chet Baker was renowned for his beautifully melodic interpretations of the Great American Songbook; the programme will be based on this repertoire including classics such as ‘My Funny Valentine’, ‘Let’s Get Lost’, ‘The Touch of Your Lips’, ‘Almost Blue’ and ‘Love for Sale’.
Tickets £22
