Chet Baker—”Born To Be Blue” (1965)

“Born To Be Blue” is a jazz standard written in 1946 by singer-composer Mel Tormé (1925-1999) from Chicago and lyricist Robert Wells (1922-1998) who was born in Washington state as Robert Levinson. This team also wrote “The Christmas Song” together. It’s a bit early for their most successful composition now, but on my 70th birthday today it’s appropriate to play “Born To Be Blue.”

Today, I want to put Chet Baker the vocalist in the spotlight. He sang this song on his 1965 Limelight album “Baby Breeze.” It was the last song for the album which was recorded in New York City on Friday November 20, 1964. Chet Baker’s vocals are accompanied by New York pianist Bobby Scott (1937-1990), who also wrote the arrangement, and Michigan guitarist Kenny Burrell, who, age 87, is still active today.

Chet Baker had returned to America in March 1964 after an absence of five years in Europe. Upon his return the jazz public had not forgotten the soft-voiced young man with a horn who had gained national prominence almost overnight through his trumpet work with the Gerry Mulligan Quartet in 1952. Though Baker’s years in Europe had been fraught with problems, it soon became apparent that he was playing and singing with new strength and conviction.

“This album contains a good cross-section of the music we play,” said Chet Baker about the “Baby Breeze” album. “I’m still singing of course -- in fact, I’d like to branch out more in the vocal field. And we’ll play a ballad, and play it prettily instead of going way out with it. What I try to do when I play in a club is to present different things, so that no matter who comes in, there’ll be something for everybody, rather than just playing one kind of thing and telling people: “If you don’t like it, you can split!”

Chet Baker's voice retained its light, almost boyish quality, but the emotions it reflected were anything but effete or adolescent. He was always in tune, and his timing on this recording was perfect. Chet Baker never strained or strived for phony effects, and could be romantic without becoming mawkish. During his years in Europe Chet Baker had definitely grown in stature as a singer.