(c) Paula Ross, All Rights Reserved

Gullivers
West Patterson, New Jersey- 1985

I fell in love with Chet along with hordes of other women and men. The fifties were a time when people still played games. So in order to meet him,my friend Paula and Iwent to the Sugar Hill where he was playing for the weekend. Our timing was perfect-he got there just as we did and we walked in together. He went downstairs to the dressing roomm (that's a kind word for what was- really a dark and dingy basement. I didn't smoke but I came out of the ladies room with a cigarette I had bummed and just like in the movies--there he was to light it. We hung out for a while before the set and he asked where I'd been all his life? Would I come see him the following night? I said I would. The next evening came. The club was in a dark hairy neighborhood...I was only 17 and had no car, no money for a taxi, no one to drive me....I called everyone I knew in the world with no success. Times were different then anyhow so like a fool I was too embarrassed to tell him the truth and just said I couldn't make it.

I guess I grew up a bit after that and realized that he and his music were this incredible magnet and he was like a movie star during this period of his life so after that I just went and listened. The next time I got that close to Chet was unfortunately at his funeral . He died shortly after Bruce Weber finished filming the story of Chets' life- "Let's Get Lost" . It was presented in documentary form. Webers' cinematography captured Chet Baker's soul and musical passion--through all of life's tribulations, he remained true to his music. "Let's Get Lost" was nominated for an Oscar in the documentary category .

Not too long before Chet passed away I moved to L. A. Shortly after the funeral I was invited to a few pre-screenings of the film and was asked by a musician who had played with Chet to exhibit my photographs of him at a tribute that was being planned. You might say that was the beginning of my career and connection to the jazz community out here and a new life. Thank You, Thank You Chet.