Deep In A Dream

Oct 7, 2024 12:25 AM

Author:James Gavin

Deep In A Dream

From 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 fifties.

In 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 façade laysomething 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.

Reviews

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

If you're a big fan, you'll love it - even if he's not your fave singer, it's still a wicked read. Guaranteed to make you giggle, so take a peak

—— Mizz

Captivating . . . an emotional memoir . . . The author takes readers on a roller-coaster ride from the height of Hollywood fame to his darkest days . . . In one heartbreaking passage, Reeve writes how he wanted to die after his Memorial Day accident until his wife urged him to live

—— New York Daily News

Inspiring

—— Los Angeles Times

Previous Article：Tynan Letters Next Article：Othello

Comments

Welcome to zzdbook comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.