De Valk’s biography covers both the musical career of Chet Baker and his sad, wasted life. Interviews with family members, fellow musicians, friends, and officials debunk myths and set the record straight on Baker’s death. De Valk includes an interesting segment, illuminated by Bud Shank, on West coast jazz and another on the reverse racism that Baker may have suffered. One chapter is devoted to an interview with Baker on September 24, 1987, less than a year before his death. De Valk’s two chronological discographies are useful: the Select Discography includes the best of Baker’s output with commentary and the Complete Discography rates all of his recordings.

Jeroen de Valk is a Dutch jazz journalist who has also written a biography of Ben Webster. An updated version of his biography of Chet Baker was published in Holland in 2007. De Valk also plays bass and studied with John Clayton.