Chet Baker

Documentary about jazz great Chet Baker that 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). And, we see the aged Baker, detached, indifferent, his face a ruin. Includes interviews with his children and ex-wife, women companions, and musicians.

Follows the adventures of a group of friends, teddy boys and rock and roll chicks whose crazy, fun-loving habits inspire jiving from some of Rome's citizens, and bitter complants from others which inspire a group of corrupt officials determined to a bring the group down.

This long unavailable performance in Sweden by Chet Baker in his late period presents the trumpeter in a very relaxed mood, playing at a television studio and pakced only by piano and bass (no drums!). Chet performs most of the tunes comfortably seated on a sofa, as if he were in his own living room. The program displays a combination of some of his most famous tunes and a couple of lovely standards, such as Bud Powell's "Tempus Fugit" (which Baker had only previously recorded twice before) and his friend Bob Zleff's "Sad Walk". For the last part of the performace, renowned bassist Red Mitchell comes onto the set for a short but insightful interview with Chet Baker. Later, both play a sweet duet version of "My Romance" with Mitchell returing to the first instrument he learned to play: the piano. Recorded at the Sonet Library, Stockholm, Sweden, June 30, 1985.