Mickey Baker 1925-2012

[brownie]

Blues and jazz guitarist Mickey Baker died yesterday at his home outside Toulouse, southern France. He was 87.

Baker settled in France in the early '60s.

He had taken part in several of the seminal rhythm and blues sessions including Joe Turner's 'Shake, Rattle and Roll'.

He recorded with Ruth Brown, Big Maybelle, Ray Charles, LaVern Baker, Chuck Willis, Al Sears, Screamin' Jay Hawkins and many others...

[Ragu]

Not to forget his major contributions to a couple of classic duets, "Love Is Strange," as part of Mickey & Sylvia and I believe I played on "I Think It's Gonna Work Out Fine," by Ike & Tina.

[7/4]

[Big Beat Steve]

Another case of "had no idea he was still around".

RIP and thanks for the music!

[robertoart]

my favourite Mickey Baker,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1Nauc_mQtw

and don't forget Vol.2

Edited November 28, 2012 by freelancer

[RiRiIII]

RIP.

I love his Atlantic LP:

Edited November 28, 2012 by Alexandros

[AllenLowe]

interesting guy, but I would say he has no real jazz chops.

[robertoart]

interesting guy, but I would say he has no real jazz chops.

C'mon Allen, have a listen to the Robin's Nest clip I posted.

[paul secor]

One of THE r&b session men of the 50's. You've probably heard his guitar on recordings, even if you didn't know it was he.

Thanks, Mr. Baker.

[JSngry]

Yeah, truly a seminal figure. RIP.

[robertoart]

interesting guy, but I would say he has no real jazz chops.

Listening to Robin's Nest again, I can hear he ain't no Tal Farlow, but he sure as hell ain't no Arto Lindsay either.

Sounds a bit like a Gutbucket Django to me.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

I didn't know he was still around. What a lot of music, jazz chops or chitlins stew, who cares?

RIP Mr Baker.

MG

[jlhoots]

Love Is Strange was one of the signal songs of my youth.

R.I.P.

[brownie]

Interesting reminiscences of Mickey Baker

http://jimherrington.tumblr.com/post/16519854865/mickey-baker-musician-toulouse-france-c-jim

[John L]

A very tasteful guitar player and fine musician. RIP

[paul secor]

Interesting reminiscences of Mickey Baker

http://jimherrington...se-france-c-jim

Interesting stuff. Thanks for posting that link, brownie.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Yes, very interesting.

MG

[brownie]

Obituary in The New York Times today

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/30/arts/music/mickey-baker-guitarist-whose-riffs-echo-today-dies-at-87.html?hpw&_r=0

[7/4]

Obituary in The New York Times today

http://www.nytimes.c...7.html?hpw&_r=0

"He studied composition and theory with the Greek composer Iannis Xenakis, among other teachers, and experimented on his own, playing and writing in a variety of forms, including classical music; he wrote a series of fugues and inventions for guitar and a concerto, “The Blues Suite,” for guitar and orchestra."

Surprise!

Didn't expect that.

[BillF]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/dec/02/mickey-baker

[Utevsky]

RIP.

I love his Atlantic LP:

Yes, I remember this one fondly. I think I have an old reel-to-reel copy of it in the basement.