With lyrics by Sammy Cahn and tune by Jule Styne, the song Time After Time was written in 1947 and rapidly became a jazz standard. Trumpeter and singer Chet Baker certainly took a shine to it and recorded many versions over the years. I already posted one version from 1956 here. Here’s another excellent one, from Belgium TV in 1964. Chet Baker had an unusual vocal style for jazz: smooth and with little vibrato, rather like his playing on the trumpet. There’s quite a long trumpet solo in this one during which you can hear the influence of Miles Davis very clearly.
Archive for Chet Baker
Time After Time – Chet Baker
Posted in Jazz with tags Chet Baker, Jazz, Time After Time on September 29, 2026 by telescoperTime After Time – Chet Baker
Posted in Jazz with tags Chet Baker, St Valentine's Day, Time After Time on February 14, 2026 by telescoperIt seems an appropriate evening for a romantic love song. Lyrics by Sammy Cahn, music by Jule Styne, vocals and trumpet by Chet Baker. Baker’s singing is quite unlike most jazz singers, and many jazz fans don’t like it very much, but I think his intimate, tender, and somewhat melancholic vocal performance together with his spare yet lyrical trumpet playing combine make this a classic.
The Girl from Greenland – Chet Baker
Posted in Jazz with tags Chet Baker, Dick Twardzik, The Girl from Greenland on January 20, 2026 by telescoperOne reason this track caught my eye is probably obvious given current events, but another is that the tune was written by another superbly individual yet largely forgotten pianist from the 1950s, Dick Twardzik. Sadly Twardzik died of a drug overdose just a few days after this was recorded, in October 1955 at the age of just 24. Chet Baker – who had his own share of problems with narcotics – became very popular for his very attractive singing voice as well as his “cool” trumpet tone, but this one is purely instrumental. The other members of the quartet are Peter Littman (drums) and Jimmy Bond (bass).
My Funny (and very sad) Valentine
Posted in Jazz with tags Chet Baker, My Funny Valentine, St Valentine's Day on February 14, 2013 by telescoperI suppose I should make some concession to Valentine’s Day, so here’s the classic 1954 Chet Baker version of the Rodgers & Hart tune My Funny Valentine. This was a big hit during the period when jazz switched from the frenetic pace and jagged angularity of bebop to the smooth cocktail bar sounds of the Cool School; its popularity owed as much to Baker’s youthful good looks and attractive singing voice as to the trumpet solo on this recording.
But that was 1954. A lifelong addiction to heroin exacted a terrible toll on Chet Baker. Here’s a harrowing and heart-rending reprise of My Funny Valentine recorded, just a year before his death, at a concert in Tokyo in 1987.
Sic transit gloria mundi.
