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1929 
Born in Oklahoma.
1952-55
After another brief spell with Parker he formed his own quartet,
although he proved not to be a natural bandleader. His hit recording
of My Funny Valentine, together with his youthful good
looks, brought fame, and Baker dominated numerous jazz polls in
the mid-1950s.
1968
Severely beaten in San Francisco, Baker suffered injuries to his
mouth which took many years to heal.
1975
He returned to Europe where, performing more regularly, his career
began to recover and in the 1980s he again made some noteworthy
albums with Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen & Doug Raney for the Steeplechase
label. The absence of a drummer encouraged Baker to develop long,
rhythmically free lines.
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1952
After musical study in the army he played briefly with Charlie
Parker, although he never recorded with him, and for a year
with the piano-less Gerry Mulligan
Quartet.
1956
Baker sings on record for the first time, his
soft, wistful voice is popular.
late-1950s
Baker moved to Europe, where
he was to spend most of his last 30 years living out of a suitcase.
Beset by drug problems, his career became erratic and in Italy he
was imprisoned for nearly a year in 1960.
1988
Falling from a hotel window in Amsterdam, Baker's death to this day
remains a mystery, although suicide is the likeliest option. |
STYLE
Baker's style and even his repertoire, it is often said, were borrowed
from Miles Davis. Often technically poor,
his playing was limited to the middle range
but Baker lacked the assertiveness and emotional depth of Davis. Lyrical,
wistful and reticent, his sound epitomised the West
Coast style of playing. In the early and mid-1950s his star shone
brightly, but later lost momentum and his
youthful promise remained unfulfilled. His legacy seems
to rest as much on his photogenic appeal as on his (too numerous)
recordings. |