Ginger Baker

Birth of Rock and Roll: British Invasion: Ginger Baker

Ginger Baker

I've decided to begin the rock portion of the HMR Project with British Invasion drummer, Ginger Baker, born in Lewisham, South London, on 19 August 1939. Ginger, who's given name was Peter, began playing drums at about age fifteen. Before realizing a musical career he worked as a bricklayer for his father's construction business, attended Pope Street School and served in the Air Training Corps for two or more years. Baker's first recordings arrived in 1957 to appear on the 1958 release of the album, 'Storyville Re-Visited', by the Hugh Rainey All Stars which had become the Storyville Jazzmen. Other titles w the Jazzmen went unissued until 2005 on a CD titled 'Bob Wallis & His Storyville Jazzmen 1957', a few of those in alphabetical order below:

'Breeze' Baker w the Storyville Jazzmen Recorded 1957

'Doctor Jazz' Baker w the Storyville Jazzmen Recorded 1957 Composition: Joe King Oliver 1926

'Weary Blues' Baker w the Storyville Jazzmen Recorded 1957 Composition: Artie Matthews

'Winter Wonderland' had seen issue on the album, 'Storyville Re-Visited', in 1958:

'Winter Wonderland' Baker w the Storyville Jazzmen Issued 1958 Composition: Felix Bernard

Baker is thought to have met afrobeat originator, Fela Kuti, as early as 1958 when they performed together at the Flamingo in London, though it would be another decade before collaborations. It was 1959 when he meet influential jazz drummer, Phil Seamen, who introduced him to African rhythms. Baker was on another path, however, when in 1962 he replaced Charlie Watts in Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated, Watts leaving to join the Rolling Stones. Thus Baker began working with Jack Bruce and Graham Bond. The Graham Bond Quartet emerged in 1963, soon to become the Graham Bond Organization. That Quartet consisted of Graham Bond (organ), Jack Bruce (bass), John McLaughlin (guitar) and Baker at sticks:

'Spanish' Baker w the Graham Bond Quartet Recorded 1963 Composition: Graham Bond

Issued 2012 in the box set: 'Wade In The Water Classics'

'Untitled Abbey Road Blues' Baker w the Graham Bond Quartet Recorded 1963 Composition: Graham Bond

Issued 2012 in the box set: 'Wade In The Water Classics'

'Little Girl' Baker w the Graham Bond Organization Issued 1965 on 'The Sound of '65' Composition: Graham Bond

'Hoochie Coochie Man' Baker live w the Graham Bond Organization 1965 Composition: Willie Dixon

In 1966 Baker attended a Bluesbreakers concert where he met Eric Clapton, which resulted in their recruitment of Jack Bruce toward the formation of Cream (an intentionally self-complimentary name). Cream's first release was a 45 in 1966 with 'Wrapping Paper' A side and 'I Feel Free' B side, followed by the album, 'Fresh Cream' (containing 'I Feel Free' on the U.S. edition, but not 'Wrapping Paper'). Baker composed the drum solo, 'Toad', included on that. I've not discovered why it is titled 'Toad'. I've heard the term used in the United States in the nineties in reference to drug dealers who profit from the addictions of others, and Baker himself had fallen into an addiction to heroin in the early sixties which lasted into the eighties. I mention such only en passé, however, for there may be no such connection. Wikipedia, et al, have the piece arising out of his 'Camels and Elephants' of 1965 while with the Graham Bond Organization. A few titles issued by Cream in 1966:

'I'm So Glad' by Cream Composition: Skip James Album: 'Fresh Cream' 1966

'Toad' by Cream Composition: Ginger Baker Album: 'Fresh Cream' 1966

'Wrapping Paper' by Cream Music: Jack Bruce Lyrics: Pete Brown

Issued in the UK on Reaction 591007 on 7 Oct 1966 Issued in France on IPP 27791 in Nov 1966

Cream released the album, 'Disraeli Gears', in 1967:

'Blue Condition' by Cream Composition: Ginger Baker Album: 'Disraeli Gears' 1967

'Dance the Night Away' by Cream Composition: Jack Bruce/Pete Brown Album: 'Disraeli Gears' 1967

'Strange Brew' by Cream Composition: Eric Clapton/Felix Pappalardi/Gail Collins Album: 'Disraeli Gears' 1967

'Sunshine of Your Love' by Cream Composition: Jack Bruce/Eric Clapton/Pete Brown Album: 'Disraeli Gears' 1967

The mono version of Cream's album, 'Wheels of Fire', was issued in August 1968, international releases in stereo the same year. That was a double album divided between studio sessions on platter 1 and a live performance at the Fillmore in San Francisco on platter 2:

'White Room' by Cream Music: Jack Bruce Lyrics: Pete Brown Album: 'Wheels of Fire' 1968

Baker was yet with Cream when he delivered a drum clinic on film in latter 1968:

'Ginger Baker Drum Clinic Latter 1968

Cream performed its Farewell Concert on 26 November 1968 at Royal Albert Hall:

Cream Farewell Concert Royal Albert Hall 26 Nov 1968

In 1969 Baker joined Ric Grech, Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood to form Blind Faith. Blind Faith was briefly lived, making only one tour and releasing a single eponymous album in 1969. That contained Baker's composition, 'Do What You Like':

'Blind Faith' by Blind Faith Initial issue on Polydor 583 059 (UK) 1969

When Clapton left Blind Faith to join the opening act of Delaney & Bonnie in 1969 Baker formed his Air Force consisting of ten planes including himself: Graham Bond, Phil Seamen, Steve Winwood, Ric Grech, Denny Laine, Alan White, Chris Wood, Harold McNair and Remi Kabaka. Despite such the array, Baker thought better than to invade the United States with it. Personnel saw shifting, however, from the band's first album, 'Air Force', in 1970 to 'Air Force 2' released on 9 Dec the same year, Bond largely sharing leadership of the band with Baker:

'Do Da Man' by Air Force Composition: Harold McNair Album: 'Air Force' 1970

'Doin' It' by Air Force Composition: Ginger Baker/Ric Grech Album: 'Air Force' 1970

'Don't Care' by Air Force Composition: Ginger Baker/Steve Winwood Album: 'Air Force' 1970

'Do What You Like' by Air Force Composition: Ginger Baker Album: 'Air Force' 1970

'Early in the Morning' by Air Force Composition: Charlie Spand/Sonny Boy Williamson I Album: 'Air Force' 1970

'12 Gates of the City' by Air Force Composition: Graham Bond Album: 'Air Force 2' 1970

Filmed live performances by Air Force with Eleanor Barooshian and Jeanette Jacobs follow below. Too uncertain of venues, I leave them unidentified:

'12 Gates of the City' Filmed concert performance by Air Force 1970 Composition: Graham Bond

'Early in the Morning' Filmed concert performance by Air Force 1970 Composition: Charlie Spand/Sonny Boy Williamson I

'Sunshine of Your Love' Filmed concert performance by Air Force 1970

Music: Jack Bruce/Eric Clapton Lyrics: Pete Brown

Following Air Force, Baker formed his Drum Choir which was a radical tangent from his jazz-rock fusions up to that point. Baker had visited his friend, Guy Warren (drums), in Ghana in 1970, leading him to contact afrobeat vocalist, Fela Kuti, whom he had known some years, toward working together, that arriving to a couple albums together which would see issue in 1971 and 1972. In the meantime Baker's Drum Choir tested the market with an issue of 'Atunde! (We Are Here)' and 'Atunde! (Part 2)' on 45 rpm on Polydor 2058-107 (Germany) and ATCO 45-6816, the latter issued in June of 1971 [DanishCharts]. African rhythms had been making their way into American jazz for at least a decade, but they were yet new to the rock audience:

'Atunde! Part 1' Composition: Gaspar Lawal/Shamsi Sarumi/Ginger Baker 1971

'Atunde! Part 2' Composition: Gaspar Lawal/Shamsi Sarumi/Ginger Baker 1971

Baker found his element in drumming for Kuti on the latter's 'Live! The Africa '70' released in August of 1971. The following year Kuti contributed keyboards and voice to tracks 1-4 of Baker's 'Stratavarious':

'Let's Start' Composition: Fela Kuti Album: 'Live! The Africa '70' 1971

'Stratavarious' Fela Kuti on keyboards and vocals tracks 1-4 of 6 Issued 1972

Baker had begun to build a recording studio in Lagos, Nigeria, in 1971, that becoming operational in 1973, the year he was filmed making toil and trouble for elder drum master, Art Blakey, in Jay Bulger's 'Beware of Mr. Baker':

Drum battle w Art Blakey 'Beware of Mr. Baker' 1973

Baker raised an army as well, the Baker Gurvitz Army formed in 1974 with Adrian and Paul Gurvitz of the bands, Gun and Three Man Army. Also in the ranks of the Baker Gurvitz Army were Graham Bond, Phil Seamen, Steve Winwood and Denny Laine.

'Help Me' by the Baker Gurvitz Army 'Old Grey Whistle Test' (television show) 1975

Composition: Adrian Gurvitz

Jumping ahead into the eighties, Baker spent time as a member of Hawkwind and Public Image Ltd.:

'Brainstorm' by Hawkwind Composition: Nik Turner 1979

'Ease' by Public Image Limited Composition: Jebin Bruni Issued 1 Feb 1986

Advancing into the nineties, the well-experienced Baker was yet performing rock with his old comrade from the Graham Bond Quartet/Organization and Cream, Jack Bruce:

'Hey Now Princess' Baker live w Jack Bruce 'David Letterman Show' 9 Feb 1990

Music: Jack Bruce Lyrics: Pete Brown

'Politician' Baker live w Jack Bruce & Blues Saraceno Toad's Place in New Haven CT 11 Feb 1990

Music: Jack Bruce Lyrics: Pete Brown

Baker also worked w the Masters of Reality in the nineties:

'John Brown' Masters of Reality Filmed live at Sound City 6 Jan 1991

Composition: Chris Goss & Tim Harrington

'She Got Me' Masters of Reality Composition: Chris Goss 6 Jan 1991

Produced by Baker/Googe/Goss

Issued on Chrysalis DPRO-04634 & Chrysalis CDP 521976 ('Sunrise on the Sufferbus') 1992

Baker formed BBM in 1993 with Jack Bruce (bass) and Gary Moore (guitar) toward the release of 'Around the Next Dream' on 17 May 1994:

Ginger Baker w BBM (Baker-Bruce-Moore) Album: 'Around the Next Dream' Issued 17 May 1994

Baker moved to Parker, Colorado, just southeast of Denver, in 1993 to pursue a fascination with polo. Maintaining his interest in modern jazz, he formed the avant-garde Ginger Baker Trio in 1994 with Bill Frisell (guitar) and Charlie Haden (bass):

'In the Moment' Ginger Baker Trio filmed live at Jazzfestival Frankfurt 1995 Composition: Charlie Haden

Baker left Parker, Colorado, for South Africa in 1999. 2005 saw the release of a live Cream reunion album, 'Royal Albert Hall London May 2-3-5-6 2005' on 4 October, with Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton:

Reunion concert w Jack Bruce & Eric Clapton at Royal Albert Hall 2 May 2005

Reunion concert w Jack Bruce & Eric Clapton at Royal Albert Hall 3 May 2005

Reunion concert w Jack Bruce & Eric Clapton at Royal Albert Hall 5 May 2005

Reunion concert w Jack Bruce & Eric Clapton at Royal Albert Hall 6 May 2005

In 2008 a South African bank clerk whom Baker had hired as a personal assistant defrauded him of nigh $60,000. He published his memoir, 'Hellraiser', in 2009. In 2013 Baker formed the quartet, Jazz Confusion, consisting of Alec Dankworth, Abass Dodoo and Pee Wee Ellis. They issued the album, 'Why?', the next year: