As Though I Had Wings
- 118 pages
- 5 hours of reading
The late jazz legend offers his memories of the jazz scene of the 1950s and his decline from drug use in the early 1960s
Chet Baker Books
Chet Baker was an American jazz trumpeter, flugelhorn player, and singer who rose to prominence in the 1950s as a leading figure in cool jazz. His music was characterized by a relaxed, even melancholy tone, and his appealing looks combined with an intimate singing voice also garnered attention in popular music. However, Baker's career was significantly hampered by drug addiction, which led to his imprisonment in the 1960s. His distinctive style and soulful delivery left an indelible mark on jazz music.
The Jazz Singer's Handbook provides an inspiring and practical window of insight into the world of professional jazz singing. Drawing upon an impressive career as an arranger, teacher, singer, pianist, and clinician, Michele Weir (faculty, UCLA) has distilled her experiences and observations into two handbook the artistry and the mastery of singing jazz. Also included is a jazz chord library, a professional resource guide, a review of music fundamentals, and an index of terms and symbols. The online audio includes sing-along tracks for standard songs, many of which are in two keys for different voice ranges, plus recorded examples of the performance and arranging concepts presented in the text.