Review of Born to Be Blue (2015) by Steve D — 29 Jul 2016

I have read 2 biographies of Chet and listened to his music for decades. Ultimately this film doesn't do justice to the subject matter. He came across as an unreliable junkie. Which is true of course.

However, he was a really really terrible junkie who meted out appalling treatment to the women in his life, and many of the musicians with whom he played. This included violence, ripping off his musicians and getting his wife a jail term for carrying his drugs across across international borders.

He could be amiable and great company. He was also a real nightmare for many of the people he was involved as his addiction spiralled out of control with and I do not think the film successfully got this across.

With regards to the actual music, I don't recall him desperately seeking the approbation of Diz and Miles in his biographies but the film emphasised this several times. I also don't think the film succesfully portrayed his sublime brilliance and just how different his playing and singing was from everything else at the time.

So for me, unfortunately, as a massive fan of jazz and Chet, the film was a major disappointment.