Chet Baker Documentary: Let's Get Lost

[Asterix]

Anyone ever seen this. Wow, great film, and the soundtrack on cd is amazing too.

 

[holeinmywallet]

This is probably the best film ever produced in the jazz history, and went on be an Oscar nominee in 1988. It's an hour and half long documentary by Bruce Weber on one of the most tragic icons in jazz, Chet Baker. Actually, I read somewhere that people who were the closest to Chet disregarded the film when it came out, saying it was way too far off the actual reality, overdramatized. Great film by the way.

 

[Asterix]

Quote:

Originally Posted by holeinmywallet This is probably the best film ever produced in the jazz history, and went on be an Oscar nominee in 1988. It's an hour and half long documentary by Bruce Weber on one of the most tragic icons in jazz, Chet Baker. Actually, I read somewhere that people who were the closest to Chet disregarded the film when it came out, saying it was way too far off the actual reality, overdramatized. Great film by the way.

I understand it's not being made anymore either. Kind of ironic such a great film is no longer being produced. Too many drug references?? I don't know. Anyway I got my copy on VHS off e-bay!

 

[daycart1]

Thanks for the tip; I'll do an ebay search. Howcome this isn't on PBS? Drug references?

 

[Asterix]

Quote:

Originally Posted by daycart1 Thanks for the tip; I'll do an ebay search. Howcome this isn't on PBS? Drug references?

I just checked on e-bay and unfortunately it looks like right now all you can get is the cd. If you like Chet Baker I highly recommend this cd, it's beautifully recorded in terms of sound quality, and is a Chet Baker must have with lots of vocal tracks. This is the fully matured Chet, but he still has that signature youthfulness in his voice. This is slow, seductive music, played in a laid back West coast style.

Watching the musicians in the studio recording these tunes (on the film) is very insightful into the lives of these musicians, and is quite the icing on the cake for me (I got the sound track first...) but I listen to the full soundtrack alone often as the music is outstanding and beautiful.

Check out the album cover to see a well-worn Chet. This must be from years of drug abuse, and I guess just the hardships of being a jazz musician. Most of these guys died young, Chet made it to about 60 which isn't bad. Despite his age when this was recorded, Chet's music sounds fresh as ever.

Note: unless you are already a big Chet fan, this music may be somewhat of an acquired taste. I didn't like it at first but as music can do it really grew on me with time. The first track I really loved was "Imagination".

 

[daycart1]

Right, I've put in an ebay watch.

Actually, CB's vocals don't do a whole lot for me, but cool-jazz horn playing does!

Any other good jazz videos? Most of the ones I've seen are too cut up (not enough whole performances) to be really good.

 

[Asterix]

Quote:

Originally Posted by daycart1 Right, I've put in an ebay watch. Actually, CB's vocals don't do a whole lot for me, but cool-jazz horn playing does! Any other good jazz videos? Most of the ones I've seen are too cut up (not enough whole performances) to be really good.

Well if you honestly don't care for his singing maybe you shouldn't get that cd. It's got a lot of him singing.

The only other jazz video I have is a Lester Young documentary. It's gives you a nice background on his life, with some cool interviews and photos. I forgot the title of the film right now.

 

[timoteus]

I think the Lester Young doc. was "Song of the Spirit".

Not really jazz videos but jazz movies that I liked was a film loosely based on Dexter Gordon's years in France, and the Woody Allen film "Sweet and Lowdown" that was about Emmett Ray (Sean Penn) the jazz guitarist that idolized Django.