|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CD
|
|
ESPDISK 5100CD
|
"Duck Baker should be a national treasure. He should be an international treasure. Should be? In my book he already is. I first came across his work in the 1970s on early Kicking Mule LPs in my local library in the UK, which was his temporary base then, and is his permanent home now. Many years later I was astounded by Spinning Song, his CD of Herbie Nichols compositions. Around the same time, I made contact with him by way of thanks following a review he wrote of my work on Stuff Smith and, later, other historic violinistic books and CDs. Duck's knowledge and learning about the ancestry of so many musical genres is prodigious, whether jazz, avant-garde, improvisation in general, various forms of country music, Irish, blues, ragtime, swing, you name it. He draws on so much to make his own unique playing and composing. And none of it is to go by the troublesome term 'appropriation;' Duck absorbs, pays tribute, and is himself, wherever his fingers might move across his flamenco guitar, including, of course, its wood body. This previously unreleased collection consists of fourteen solos and two duos with Eugene Chadbourne. The performances are drawn mostly from demo sessions or live recordings, and were recorded at various locations between 1976 and 1998. They run the gamut of moods and tempos, from the reflective 'Peace' and brooding 'Like Flies' to burners that rank with Baker's most animated free playing on record, like the title track, 'No Family Planning,' and 'Buffalo Fire.' The only so-to-speak standards are Thelonious Monk's 'Straight, No Chaser' and Billy Strayhorn's 'Take the 'A' Train,' the latter featuring fascinating and humorous interplay between the two guitarists?. Duck's catalogue is now vast, including a recent CD release of Thelonious Monk compositions, which beautifully complements the aforementioned Nichols CD. As well as solo efforts, past records include collaborations with the likes of Chadbourne, Roswell Rudd, John Zorn, and John Butchers or, at the other end of the spectrum, Stefan Grossman, John Renbourn, Leo Kottke, Molly Andrews, and Maggie Boyle. I, for one, never tire of listening to Duck playing in whatever context. He is a master and every recording is a gem." --Anthony Barnett
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
CD
|
|
ESPDISK 5065CD
|
In his five-decade career, finger-style acoustic guitarist Duck Baker has played in lots of styles, from folk (real folk, such as Scottish and Irish fiddle tunes) to blues to jazz, in the latter genre particularly focusing on bebop greats, with whole albums devoted to the music of Thelonious Monk and Herbie Nichols. But he has flashed an avant-garde side as well, and of course ESP-Disk' was interested in exposing more of the latter work. This album of duos and trios with an all-star roster of players, mostly British, collects recordings ranging from 1994 through 2017.
Personnel: Duck Baker - guitar; Derek Bailey - guitar on "Indie Pen Dance" (2002); Steve Beresford - piano on "Duo for 225 strings" (2009)' John Butcher - tenor saxophone on "The Missing Chandler" (2009); Mark Dresser bass on "Shenandoah" and "Pope Slark" (1994); Michael Moore - alto saxophone on "Imp Romp 2" (2008); Roswell Rudd - trombone on "East River Delta Blues" and "Signing Off" (2002); Alex Ward - clarinet and Joe Williamson - bass on "Ode to Jo" (2010); John Edwards - bass and Steve Noble - drums "Tourbillion Air" (2017).
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
LP
|
|
TPR 277LP
|
To commemorate Herbie Nichols' 2019 centennial, Triple Point Records is proud to announce the first-ever vinyl issue of Spinning Song, Duck Baker's '90s classic. Spinning Song contains solo acoustic guitar renditions of nine Nichols compositions, meticulously remastered from the original tapes. The set includes all of the original liner notes along with a new Duck Baker essay and two previously unseen photos. One of several records devoted to the music of Nichols that appeared independently in the mid-1990s, Spinning Song has been regarded as a milestone by guitarists ever since. Baker had made his reputation over the previous two decades as a master fingerstyle guitarist working mostly in folk, ragtime, and swing, but this was his first real entry into the world of jazz guitar, and his background gave him a unique approach to Herbie Nichols. The enigmatic pianist and composer Nichols (1919-63) has forever been one of jazz's insider figures. Though he was the composer of "Lady Sings the Blues" for Billie Holiday, Nichols' compositions were little known, circulated, or performed in his lifetime. Two records for Blue Note made from several 1955-56 trio sessions are the central repository for Nichols' very personal original music. He died in obscurity, but in the 21st century, Nichols is rightly hailed for a profound and offbeat writing style comparable to that of his contemporary, Thelonious Monk. Upon its original release, the jazz press gave Spinning Song a warm reception, and Acoustic Guitar magazine proclaimed it "one of the best guitar records ever recorded - by anybody." High-quality, translucent red vinyl, limited pressing.
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
LP
|
|
TPR 271LP
|
2022 restock. On this LP, recorded at studio sessions in 2010 and 2015, Duck Baker delves deeply into the thinking of one of the most challenging composers, and renders guitar interpretations that are true to the original intent. That Baker's experience playing blues, gospel, ragtime, and swing serve him well on this project goes without saying. Duck Baker Plays Monk contains solo acoustic guitar renditions of nine Thelonious Monk compositions. Baker will remind you through his playing that the idiosyncrasies of Monk's composing are further dimensions of the Americana continuum (and source musics) that has been his turf for years. Especially in Monk's centennial year, many will address Monk's oeuvre: Hundreds will in fact interpret the texts, but very few can inhabit this music in the way that the mature Duck Baker can. Includes new essays by Duck and the late Roswell Rudd. Available exclusively on high-quality vinyl; limited one-time pressing.
|
|
|
|