Duck Baker Albums (14)
'Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans'
Release Date 8/18/2006
Tracks 14
Label Day Job
See Album Tracklist and Review
'My Heart Belongs to Jenny'
Release Date 8/18/2006
Tracks 16
Label Day Job
See Album Tracklist and Review
'Opening the Eyes of Love'
Release Date 3/5/2001
Tracks 15
Label Acoustic
See Album Tracklist and Review
'The Kid on the Mountain'
Release Date 6/29/1999
Tracks 17
Label Kicking Mule
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What The Critics Say
Although Kid on the Mountain's main focus is traditional Celtic material -- both Irish and Scottish, along with some Welsh songs -- this album is hardly oblivious to non-Celtic influences. Duck Baker is an acoustic guitarist who was born and raised in the U.S., and the influence of Anglo-American folk asserts itself on all of his interpretations of Celtic and British songs. Further, he plays unaccompanied acoustic guitar on traditional Celtic classics like "Morgan Magan," "Blind Mary," and "Lament for Limerick" -- not fiddle or harp, but acoustic guitar. Add all that up, and you've got an album that is hardly the work of a Celtic purist. But it's certainly the work of an artist who isn't afraid to take risks, and Baker's chance-taking spirit makes for an interesting, unorthodox project that can hardly be called generic. Recorded in 1979 and originally released as a vinyl LP in 1980, Kid on the Mountain was finally reissued on CD in 1999 with four bonus tracks from 1977-1978. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
'Spinning Song: Duck Baker Plays the Music of Herbie Nichols'
Release Date 3/18/1997
Tracks 9
Label Avant
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What The Critics Say
This CD consists entirely of solo fingerstyle guitar renditions of pieces by the legendary Blue Note pianist/composer Herbie Nichols, and as with Nichols' music -- which was nearly always performed in a standard piano/bass/drums trio format -- there is a lot more going on here than the somewhat routine surface suggests. Nichols' compositions have their own sort of ambiguous, hard-to-pin-down harmonic aroma, filled with subtle harmonic twists and soft dissonances, but Baker somehow captures it in these versions even when he detours from the originals. He swings naturally and effortlessly when he wants, but he also takes things outside and gets abstract in his own quiet way, most notably on the remarkable version of "Nick at T's." Folks who are new to Nichols' music would probably find it helpful to know the originals, since Baker rearranges several of them, tosses in quotes from other tunes, and generally does more improvising than the pianist was prone to doing. In any case, this album is a fine piece of work, one with the same type of subtlety and deceptive-sounding ease for which Nichols was/is known. ~ William York, All Music Guide
'Art of Fingerstyle Jazz Guitar'
Release Date 7/1/1991
Tracks 19
Label Shanachie
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What The Critics Say
Fingerstyle guitar is usually associated with new age or folk music, or at least with a style that lazy critics have decided to call folk music despite the fact that it isn't really a tradition anywhere in the world. Leaving aside the fact that there needs to be a better name for original guitar music drawing on a variety of sources, what fingerstyle guitar definitely isn't associated with is jazz. The ringing tones achieved with a pick are more typical of most jazz guitarists, though there are some innovators who cross the boundaries. One of the more consistently interesting is Duck Baker, an acoustic guitarist who creates multiple melodies and unusual effects while playing both jazz standards and original tunes that can only be called jazz. Although it may seem unlikely that Baker alone can do justice to pieces that were written for a full band, his versions of tunes like "Take the 'A' Train" and "Stompin' at the Savoy" are surprisingly effective. While the ringing tones may be absent, the warmth and polyrhythms that come from adroit fingerpicking give this recording a warmth and character that is far from the sound-alike herd of flashy fusion guitar players. Simply put, Duck Baker fans who have heard him playing Celtic and gospel music need to know what the man does with jazz, and jazz fans who don't know Duck Baker need to get themselves an education about fingerstyle guitar. Those who aren't familiar with either jazz or Duck Baker can remedy two problems by buying one CD. To put it more succinctly, if you don't have this CD, you probably need it. [Note: As a free bonus, along with the music you get a very well-written set of liner notes by Baker himself, which puts the tunes into historical and musical context. Music critics will breathe a sigh of relief that Baker likes playing guitar, since he's an excellent writer and would give stiff competition to many of the hacks out there.] ~ Richard Foss, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Nylon string fingerpicker Duck Baker has a world of his own musically; there is no one that plays the material he does quite like he does, and as far as getting a sound like he does out of a guitar, nobody even comes close. This difficult-to-find German edition is pretty much an essential Baker item as the program is made up totally from his original tunes. As a composer of guitar tunes, many in a jazz vein, he is again a real individual, and as far as influences go, it would be enough to say that he has the right ones. Recording quality is superior, as is the pressing. If all that isn't enough, there are liner notes by British fingerpicking legend John Renbourn, no doubt one of Baker's heroes. There are plenty of Baker's most enjoyable musical aspects here. His rolling, frolicking basslines come as close as a classical guitar can get to a barrelhouse sound. And the choices he makes in the intricate arrangements he presents reveal an inquiring mind interested in pleasing the discerning audience. ~ Eugene Chadbourne, All Music Guide
'Finger Style Jazz Guitar'
Release Date 1/1/1979
Tracks 14
Label Kicking Mule
See Album Tracklist and Review
