a film about chet baker by bruce weber
weber - always a fan of bakers does a remarkably honest and two sided portrayal of one of the greatest jazz musicians of all time, showing baker for his immense natural talent aswell as his appetite for narcotics and women.
i really would urge anyone who has any interest in this genre of music to go and see this piece of work. its a very very good biography of a very interesting character, unknowingly in some of the last months of his life before he died after falling out of a miami hotel window.
with so many musicians today being industry by products, secondary to their sales targets, the age and scene in which chet baker was ensconced was one of true musical passion and calling. weber interviews mrs baker, chets mother, where she describes how he just taught himself how to play from an incredibly early age.
also remarkable are the somewhat tense interviews with his ex wives and their dealings with him. in love with a legend and adonis in some of their eyes, obvious resentment and bitterness is aplenty as they recount story after story of his philandering, manipulative ways. but alongside the bruised egos and tormented pasts, they all still talk about him with a helpless devotion.
falling in love with legends can be tough on anyone.
whats more remarkable is seeing quite honestly, all the joy, love, devotion, pain, confusion, laughter, kindness, respect and awe that one single person can conjure from so many others.
all with such a great soundtrack.
although, i think clare can explain it much much better than i...
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