Tedd Baker celebrates the release of his new album on Wednesday at Blues Alley (Photo courtesy Tedd Baker).
The area’s service bands have long been a source of excellent musicians for local music fans. Hundreds of musicians balance performance, administrative tasks, and collateral military duties to also perform outside of their official ensembles.
Tedd Baker, saxophonist for the Airmen of Note, the U.S. Air Force’s premier jazz ensemble, is one of those musicians.
“When it’s duty, I gotta be there,” Baker said in an interview with DCist. “I basically just look at off-duty time and if I can do a gig, I do it. I shed and I’m hungry. I simply love playing, hanging, learning, writing, conceptualizing.”
Baker regularly leads bands at Jojo’s and other spots around town (Disclosure: I have performed with Baker), including a memorable run at the still-missed Bohemian Caverns. On Wednesday, Baker brings a band to Blues Alley to celebrate his new album. The night will feature a quartet, but the recording, Duos Volume 1, pairs Baker in intimate one-on-one settings with some of the finest artists this area has to offer.
“Most of the tunes I have known over the years, and most were picked for a reason,” Baker explained. “Each musician I have played with many times before, so I had a good idea of what would work.”
His collaborators include vocalist Sharón Clark in a performance of “Autumn In New York,” which Baker chose as a result of his living in the Big Apple during and in the aftermath of the 2001 terrorist attacks. Ace drummer Quincy Phillips, who anchors Baker’s Tuesday night trio at Jojo’s appears on two tracks, as does percussionist Alejandro Lucini. Guitarist John Lee and bassist Kris Funn not only perform on the recording, but will also join Baker on Wednesday along with drummer Lee Pearson.
The idea for a duos recording has been simmering in Baker’s mind for some time, but relocating to the D.C. area, having children, and personal losses put the project on hold. At the same time, Baker continued to perform in a number of different settings. Having a second child crystallized the concept behind Duos Volume 1.
“I wanted to celebrate our dynamic duo,” Baker said. “I also wanted to try some tunes in a duo setting that took me out of my comfort zone.”
Baker’s Blues Alley performance will feature material from the record. Some of it has been arranged for a quartet setting, but the sets will also include moments where the band will split into duo configurations. Baker also plans to preview new compositions that he wants to incorporate into future projects, which include a trios album, some of which has already been recorded, as well as a collection of originals for larger groups.
“I basically have an idea about the next several years. We’ll see. Life happens,” he said.
While Baker’s schedule with the Airmen of Note can be demanding, he’s insistent on continuing his personal growth as an artist. This leads to a schedule that is exhausting at times, but Baker feels its worth it in the end.
“I’m hearing things that need to be worked out in my playing and writing all the time,” he said. ” I know how I can play and what I need to keep chipping away at.”
The Tedd Baker Quartet plays 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley on Wednesday, October 11. $22 plus minimum and surcharge. Duos Volume 1 will be available on CD Baby on October 11 and on other online outlets shortly thereafter.
