Nicola Stilo (born 1956 in Italy), is a jazz and pop instrumentalist, specialising in flute and guitar.
Stilo began following Chet Baker in 1979, attending his concerts and recording sessions. [1] Baker took him as part of his band for a tour of Italy the following year, [2] and on subsequent tours, [3] including to Brazil in 1985. [4] After the last, Stilo stayed in Brazil for around a year before reuniting with Baker. [5] Despite discouragement from Baker, who was a long-term drug addict, Stilo by this time had become addicted to heroin. [5] Back together in Europe, Stilo commented: "Maybe I made the choice just to live the same life he was doing, you know? [...] We were like brothers, maybe sometimes fighting, but really taking care of each other." [6] They continued to play together, with Stilo on flute and guitar. [6] Stilo wrote the music for Baker's 1988 album Chet on Poetry; it "ranged from slick Europop to funk to a graceful jazz waltz". [7] He also played on the album. [7] He appeared on film in the 1988 documentary Let's Get Lost. [8] After Baker's death later that year, Stilo gave up heroin. [9]
Stilo subsequently recorded with Toninho Horta [10] and with his own group. [11]
With Chet Baker
Nicola Stilo (born 1956 in Italy), is a jazz and pop instrumentalist, specialising in flute and guitar.
Stilo began following Chet Baker in 1979, attending his concerts and recording sessions. [1] Baker took him as part of his band for a tour of Italy the following year, [2] and on subsequent tours, [3] including to Brazil in 1985. [4] After the last, Stilo stayed in Brazil for around a year before reuniting with Baker. [5] Despite discouragement from Baker, who was a long-term drug addict, Stilo by this time had become addicted to heroin. [5] Back together in Europe, Stilo commented: "Maybe I made the choice just to live the same life he was doing, you know? [...] We were like brothers, maybe sometimes fighting, but really taking care of each other." [6] They continued to play together, with Stilo on flute and guitar. [6] Stilo wrote the music for Baker's 1988 album Chet on Poetry; it "ranged from slick Europop to funk to a graceful jazz waltz". [7] He also played on the album. [7] He appeared on film in the 1988 documentary Let's Get Lost. [8] After Baker's death later that year, Stilo gave up heroin. [9]
Stilo subsequently recorded with Toninho Horta [10] and with his own group. [11]
With Chet Baker