It's 'Basically Baker,' Man! The Buselli-Wallarab Jazz Orchestra Plays the Music of David Baker, Patois Records [REVIEW]

Dr. David Baker [1931-2016], NEA Jazz Master/trombonist/cellist/composer/arranger/educator, had some of his 2,000+ compositions interpreted in 2007 as Basically Baker by the Buselli-Wallarab Jazz Orchestra. Basically Baker Volume #2 (Patois Records) is the posthumous follow-up where, on two discs, more of Baker's basics will benefit his scholarship fund for deserving music students.

Trombonist Brent Wallarab was his student at Indiana University. Wallarab started the Jazz Orchestra with fellow student Mark Buselli in 1994. After over a thousand live performances and seven CDs utilizing the best and the brightest Midwest jazz students, Volume #2 shines with the likes of IU alum trumpeter Randy Brecker and guitarist Dave Stryker amid a hard-charging rampaging big-band of saxophone (5), trombone (3), bass trombone, tuba, piano, bass, drums, vibes, celeste and trumpet (6).

So many highlights! Baker was friends with such jazz legends as Wes Montgomery, Marian McPartland, Dizzy Gillespie, Quincy Jones, Stan Kenton, Lionel Hampton and Maynard Ferguson (the last four with whom he worked). They all rubbed off on him. So did the classical music which he so dearly loved. In fact, because of him, IU's classical music program is now internationally known. Some of that classical love seeps into the grooves here but this is one stone bigtime jazz big-band project. Play it loud!

The only cover here is Dizzy's "Bebop," rearranged for the swing set. "Kirsten's First Song" is for his granddaughter. It ends with a celeste solo that Wallarab says in the liner notes "is like a little kiss on [her] forehead before he tucks her away for the night." "Black Thursday" reverts back to his hard bop days. "Harlem Pipes" is for McPartland. "The Georgia Peach" is his rewrite of "Sweet Georgia Brown" ("two left feet but oh so sweet!").

Kudos also go out to soloists Tom Walsh on sax, Pat Harbison on trumpet and Luke Gillespie on piano.

TagsDavid Baker, REVIEW, Patois Records, Buselli-Wallarab Jazz Orchestra