Chet Baker vs. Miles Davis

Thanks Stu!!

Some may consider them similar, but I see them quite differently.

Chet came up in West Coast school, and didn’t deviate from that style. Maybe if he lived longer he might have. Plus his popularity as a singer certainly differentiates him.

Miles began in be-bop with Parker and Gillespie, then moved on to cool and then modal, before exploring electronics and fusion. So much wider ranging stylistically. And for obvious reasons never became a singer. ;^) Also Miles lead most of his groups while Chet was a partner.

I really appreciate both for their respective talents and paths (minus the drug impacts). So they are both in my favorites list.

@klimt

You’re welcome.

I can’t speak about trumpet from a technical point of view but there are others on the forum who probably can.

The recordings of M. Davis 2nd Great Quintet are among my favorites in Jazz. For my taste, they embody an ideal balance of consonance/dissonance and structure/freedom. Wayne Shorter is one of my very favorite Jazz composers and tenor players. H. Hancock is one of my favorite Jazz piano players (when he plays acoustic piano -- I don’t care for synths). Miles was a master of saying a lot with just a few notes. I tend to really enjoy such players -- in any genre. I love his dark, smoldering tone and emotional intensity.

I also very much enjoy the earlier incarnation of the Quintet with George Coleman on tenor. The live My Funny Valentine is a great example.

I haven’t heard much Chet Baker and it was a long time ago. I didn’t find it particularly compelling at the time but stylistically, the music was less appealing to me than what I generally prefer. I should try to listen to more of his stuff.

If forced to choose just one, I’d pick Woody Shaw as my favorite trumpet player.

Two very different musicians, especially if one considers the totality of their respective contributions to Jazz. Both important Jazz players, but ultimately Miles is deserving of the title as one of the giants of Jazz. Baker was a beautifully introspective player with a distinctive way with a melody. But, so was Miles…. when he chose to be. His tonal “palette” was much more wide ranging and his musical persona changed a great deal over the course of his career. He was one of the great innovators in Jazz having influenced players in genres outside the “mainstream”, which is where Baker “lived” pretty much his entire career.

From the standpoint of instrumental technique and as demonstrated by their recordings, while it could be argued that Baker was the more “refined” trumpet player given that soothing and warm quality to his tone (itself a sign of good instrumental control), Miles’ showed much wider dynamic range and sheer technical facility. His expressivity seemed to be less dependent on his “sound”.

Preference is personal and there is no right or wrong, only well formed and informed.

That said consider how jazz would have evolved if either musician hadn't existed.  Also consider the family tree of musicians that each produced.  Miles Davis consistently worked at a much higher level than Chet Baker was ever able to reach.