Ginger Baker Albums (18)
'African Force: Palanquin's Pole'
Release Date 12/12/2006
Tracks 7
Label Synergie
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'Coward of the County'
Release Date 3/23/1999
Tracks 8
Label Atlantic
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What The Critics Say
During the early '90s, Ginger Baker gradually established his reputation as a genuine jazz musician, proving that he was no rocker that was merely dabbling. Of course, anyone familiar with Cream will realize that he was among rock's jazziest drummers, but his series of records with Bill Frisell convinced many doubters of his musical merit. On one of his tours, he happened to hear trumpeter Ron Miles and bassist Artie Moore play in Denver. Impressed with the two musicians, he relocated to Colorado and assembled the Denver Jazz Quintet-to-Octet. The DJQ20 is a shifting group of musicians that have Baker, Miles and Moore at its core and, as it turns out, their elasticity is what gives them strength. For their first effort, Coward of the County, they're joined by a saxophonist, along with a variety of local Denver musicians, and the results are startlingly fresh. Using hard bop as a foundation, they're unafraid to venture into challenging territory, where they pull together free, funk and rock into unpredictable combinations. Baker wrote two of the songs, including the opening tribute, "Cyril Davies," but the remainder of the record is devoted to originals by Miles, who proves himself to be an inventive composer, capable of lovely lyrical ballads ("Megan Showers") and experimental jazz. Often, Coward of the County veers into unpredictable territory -- witness how the funky fusion on "Ginger Spice" moves into dissonant improvs, how the title track sports is colored by pedal steel and organ, or how "Daylight" is a series of surprises, as its gentle beginnings are submerged by waves of distorted guitar that fade back, revealing darkly beautiful textures. Not only are the compositions challenging, they're delivered with ease by the group, which are remarkably empathetic and graceful. In fact, it's a testimony to Baker's skills as a leader that he never dominates, preferring to let all the parts weave together to create a full, rich sound. And by doing so, he has made Coward of the County, in a way, a showcase for Miles, since his compositions become the focal point. They signal a young writer of considerable skill, ambition and talent -- and he's not a bad trumpeter, either. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Ginger Baker will forever be best known for his influential drum work as part of British blues-rockers Cream. But as most serious admirers of the drummer know, Baker subsequently tackled countless other styles. Case in point, African Force. Joining Baker is a supporting cast of percussionists with a tribal drumming background, and expectedly, this style is reflected throughout the album. In fact, it sounds very comparable to David Byrne's solo albums and also Paul Simon circa his Graceland period, especially on such tracks as "Brain Damage" and "Sokoto," while the over-epic twelve-minute album-closing title track adds some funk bass to the mix. For those who think that all of Baker's work sounds like Disraeli Gears, you're in for quite a surprise with African Force. ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Issued under Ginger Baker's name, the working title for this band was No Material, appropriate given the thrown-together nature of the group and the fact that their performances, all three of them, were totally improvised. They lasted less than a week, so this album is likely all that will ever be heard from this particular combination of players, but listeners can be glad to have it. Guitarist Nicky Skopelitis was the creative force and musical center of the band, forming the hub between the essentially rock-oriented leanings of Baker and bassist Jan Kazda and the explosively free tendencies of the Last Exit front line of Brotzmann and Sharrock. The rhythm team keeps the four lengthy pieces in a grooving zone, not dissimilar to Baker's own '80s recordings like Horses and Trees, albeit with high-energy soloing. The Skopelitis/Sharrock pairing is especially juicy, the former's melodicism contrasting wonderfully with the latter's "shards of glass" approach. Baker's heavy drum sound, largely unchanged since his days with Cream, fits in very well here; whereas it could occasionally seem plodding in a rock context, it serves as a deeply pitched anchor in a mostly free improv one. Compositional credit is given for each piece, though it appears that no more than a brief introductory line was sketched out; then the band was on there own. All of the pieces have a kind of bluesy jam feeling, with Skopelitis' "Oil of Tongue" coming closest to a rock sound and, not surprisingly, Brotzmann's closing number pushing the boundaries the furthest. The saxophone colossus from Wuppertal, Germany, is in stellar form throughout, negotiating the unusually (for him) rock-ish territory with aplomb and ferocity, with respect but absolutely no compromise; his fans would expect no less. A perfect album for listeners a bit overwhelmed by Last Exit, as well as those who found Baker's or Skopelitis' records well intentioned but a little on the timid side. Recommended. ~ Brian Olewnick, All Music Guide
'Ginger Baker's African Force'
Release Date 11/1/1998
Tracks 5
Label Records
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What The Critics Say
Bill Laswell's musical career has been a highly collaborative one. Almost every new release from solo excursions to a variety of mercurial group projects finds him engaged with a notable instrumentalist from the arenas of jazz, electronica, funk, hip-hop, reggae, and world music. It's not that he seems dominating as a musician per se, but the results do typically bare the producer's singular aural stamp. Horses & Trees is no exception. Persuaded by Laswell to continue working throughout the second half of 1980s, drummer Ginger Baker produced some of his most stimulating collections, not least of which were the Laswell produced Middle Passage and this 1986 set. The drummer is rock-solid throughout, which means that most of the compositions become a showcase for an impressive lineup of guest musicians that reads like a list of the Bill Laswell all-stars. Even when pared down to an all-rhythm trio on "Mountain Time," Baker, though undeniably effective, remains the big beat behind Daniel Ponce and Aiyb Dieng's percussion display. That does little to change the fact that this is one of the most enjoyable albums Baker (or Laswell) has been involved in. "Uncut" finds the likes of Bernie Worrell, Shankar and Laswell in fine form, taking solos like a jazz combo. "Dust to Dust" is the only piece composed solely by Baker (he shares credits everywhere else) and is the most stunning of the set with a repeated section that sounds like an alien hoe-down with world music undertones. Laswell alumni and hip-hop pioneer Grandmixer D.ST (of "Rock It" fame) returns, delivering slashes from his turntable that provide the sort of genre-bending texture Laswell is so fond of. Baker, while never caught stealing the show on any track, looms large. On Horses & Trees, his big beat pulls the greatest weight. ~ Nathan Bush, All Music Guide
'Falling off the Roof'
Release Date 10/29/1996
Tracks 11
Label Atlantic
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What The Critics Say
Give Ginger Baker this: He sure knows how to choose his sidemen. In fact, there is a certain pleasant symmetry to his recording career between the mid-'60s and the mid-'90s. It is a career bookended by power trios, first with his partnership with fellow virtuosos Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce in Cream, and then, almost 30 years later and well after most would have written him off as a relic from a bygone era, this trio with Charlie Haden and Bill Frisell. More surprising even than this unlikely partnership is the fact that the album actually works. Most memorable are the Baker-penned compositions, which sport melodies that seem to have more in common with British or Arabic folk music than bebop. As a jazz drummer, Baker is surprisingly convincing on most of the material. The timbre of his drums, unusual for a jazz album, adds a pleasing earthiness to the proceedings, and intersects well with Haden's rich bass. Everything Frisell touches turns to gold, and this album is no exception. Here he is at his quirky, impressionistic best, tossing off Monk quotations as effortlessly as he sculpts darkly ambient textures. Despite these fine achievements, Going Back Home is not perfect. On some of the material, Baker's heavy rock hand shows a bit too much, as on "Straight, No Chaser." The results are charming in their own way, but one wishes that Baker could ease up on the "Sunshine of Your Love" tom-tom fills once in a while. Also, the closer, "East Timor," features an annoying voiceover by Baker that ends the record on an off note. However, the "rockisms" work more often than they don't, and even when they don't, the groove never suffers, and the trio members always sound like they're having fun. By turns hauntingly melancholy and fearlessly experimental, this record is sure to please Frisell and Haden fans, and likely to pleasantly surprise those who enjoy Baker's work with Cream. ~ Daniel Gioffre, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
This is an instrumental trio album with drummer Ginger Baker as leader and also featuring bassist Jonas Hellborg and pianist Jens Johansson. Baker is characteristically busy at the drum kit, but the three play off each other well, creating what is in essence a free-form jazz date. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
With producer Bill Laswell, who mixes African drummers (Ayib Dieng, Mar Gueye, Magette Fall) with fusioneers (Bernie Worrell, Jonas Hellborg, Nicky Skopelitis) and bassists (Jah Wohble and Laswell) to land in a "middle passage" of worldbeat. Not bad at all. ~ Michael G. Nastos, All Music Guide
