Publisher Description

'The definitive biography' Mail on SundayFrom his emergence in the 1950s - when an uncannily beautiful young man from Oklahoma appeared in the West Coast and became, seemingly overnight, the prince of 'cool' jazz - until his violent, drug-related death in Amsterdam in 1988, Chet Baker lived a life that has become an American myth. At once sexy and forbidding, the so-called 'James Dean of Jazz' struck a note of menace in the staid this first major biography, the story of Baker's demise is finally revealed. So is the truth behind his tormented childhood. Behind Baker's icy fa ade lay something ominous, unspoken. The mystery drove both sexes crazy. But his only real romance, apart from music, was with drugs. Gavin brilliantly recreates the life of a man whose journey from golden promise to eventual destruction mirrored America's fall from post-war innocence - but whose music has never lost the power to enchant and seduce us.

Notes

Biography of the jazz musician who was born in Oklahoma and died in Amsterdam, 1988. "Detailed and perceptive" Economist.

Review

Much of Baker's work was unique and remains haunting. All the more haunting after reading this book * Sunday Independent *
Detailed and perceptive * Economist *
It reads like true life... Gavin is very good * Time Out *
Detailed... Critically assured and never allows the cool of the icon to occlude the venality of the individual * Scotland on Sunday *
Baker's impact lives on even now - sexy, angelic, needy, icy and enigmatic... Gavin's book captures Baker's journey from the golden promise of his youth to his seedy end in Amsterdam in mesmerising detail * Irish Independent *
Deep in a Dream is a black comedy of bad behaviour, outstanding even by the standards of artists in general and jazz musicians in particular * Sunday Herald *

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'The definitive biography' Mail on Sunday

Review Text

Much of Baker's work was unique and remains haunting. All the more haunting after reading this book

Review Quote

Much of Baker's work was unique and remains haunting. All the more haunting after reading this book

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'The definitive biography' Mail on Sunday

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