Baker Chet, real name Chesney Baker, *23 December 1929 Yale (Oklahoma), †13 May 1988 Amsterdam, American jazz trumpeter. He collaborated with D. Gordon, S. Getz and Ch. Parker (1952). He became famous playing in G. Mulligan’s quartet (1952–53). From 1954, he performed with his own bands, and from 1957, he occasionally gave concerts as a soloist. A representative of cool jazz, he was one of the most highly regarded jazz trumpeters of the 1950s.
As a leader, he recorded albums such as: Ch. Baker Sings 1954, Ch. Baker in New York 1958, Cool Burnin’ 1965, Someday my Price Will Come 1979, The Touch of Your Lips 1979, Nightbird 1980, Peace 1982, Blues for a Reason 1984, Candy 1985, Ch. Baker Trio 1985. He also recorded with S. Getz (Line for Lyons 1983), A. Pepper (The Route 1956), and P. Bley (Diane 1985), among others.
Literature: M. Hawthorn Ch. Baker, “Down Beat” XLVIII, 1981; L. Lewien Ch. Baker Blue Notes, Vienna 1991.
