Ginger Baker

GINGER BAKER HEADLINES THE WILBUR ON JUNE 29^TH

Boston, MA- Ginger Baker is coming to The Wilbur Theatre on Sunday June 29^th, 2014 at 7:00pm

Legendary rock drummer, Ginger Baker, renowned for his work with Cream and Blind Faith was once
voted at “The musician least likely to survive the ’60s.” But now, four decades and a few years later, he has proved them all wrong and he is heading to the United States for a June 2014 jazz fusion tour and a new CD titled Why? due June 24 on Motema Music! Teaming up with funk and jazz giant tenor saxophonist Pee Wee Ellis–the architect of James Brown’s era-defining soul of the late ’60s, bassist Alec Dankworth, and African percussionist Abass Dodoo, the band is known as Ginger Baker’s Jazz Confusion. Together they play hip, progressive jazz originals in-a-Thelonious-Monkstyle but with exciting African rhythms. The band will perform at Boston’s Wilbur Theatre, 246 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02116 on Sunday, June 29, 2014 at 7 PM.

Ginger Baker’s recognition as a drummer began during the Graham Bond Organization in the early sixties. The band toured with The Who, The Troggs, The Moody Blues and Chuck Berry, attracting press interest for their outrageous behavior and riotous fun. In 1964, Baker was considered “one of Britain’s great drummers” by Melody Maker journalist, Chris Welch. Baker, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 1992, Modern Drummer Hall Of Fame in 2010 and Classic Drummer Hall Of Fame in 2011 and whose awards include a 2005 Grammy® Life Time Achievement Award and a 2008 Zildjian Top Drummer Award, was also impressing music journalists. He also attracted attention from many musicians, one of them being Eric Clapton. The two met, jammed, saw one another play in their then-current bands,
added bass player Jack Bruce and formed Cream. In Baker’s own words, they created “instant magic” and began touring earning £45 per show and later smashing box office records previously set by The Beatles.
After Cream, came Blind Faith. Baker and Clapton were joined by Steve Winwood and Rick Grech to make just one album. When Clapton and Winwood left to further their own projects, the remaining members went on to form a jazz rock fusion band known as ‘Ginger Baker’s Airforce,’ adding sax, flute, organ and extra percussion to the band.

During a trip to Africa, Baker found himself moved and inspired and fascinated by Nigerian radio and by his friendship with and the music of Fela Kuti. Despite the war zones in that country, he was adamant about visiting Nigeria and pushed to set up a 16-track mobile recording studio in Lagos. When it opened as ‘Batakota Studios,’ Paul McCartney arrived with Wings to record part of his Band on the Run album. Music aside, Africa gave Baker a wonderful climate to live in and a healthier lifestyle than that of rock ‘n roll and touring. He also discovered his love for polo and rally driving. Baker’s work with Airforce and his friendship with Fela Kuti paved the way for Baker’s next musical project–to work with African musicians. A very funky live album was recorded in Abbey Road Studios under the name of Fela Ransome-Kuti and The Africa ’70 with Ginger Baker.

He then went on to form the English rock group The Baker Gurvitz Army, in which Baker was also involved with providing extra sounds for their debut album. The wheel spins from his Jensen FF were used for their song “Mad Jack.” He also rode a wheeled swivel chair backwards down a flight of stairs for a second track on their debut album. After setting up a second recording studio, this time in North London, Baker formed Energy. Since then, he’s performed at various live events such as Verona’s Percussion Summit and his own unmissable 70th birthday party with special guest, Steve Winwood at Camden’s Jazz Café.
Ginger Baker’s Jazz Confusion debuted in April 2012 at Ronnie Scott’s Club in London and followed with
performances throughout Europe, the United Kingdom and in Tokyo, Japan. Now they are heading to the United States.

Ginger Baker’s recognition as a drummer began during the Graham Bond Organisation in the early sixties. The band toured with The Who, The Troggs, The Moody Blues and Chuck Berry, attracting press interest for their outrageous behaviour and riotous fun. In 1964 Baker was considered ‘one of Britain’s great drummers’ by Melody Maker journalist, Chris Welch.

While Baker, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 1992, Modern Drummer Hall Of Fame (2010) and Classic Drummer Hall Of Fame (2011) and whose awards include a Grammy Life Time Achievement Award (2005) and Zildjian Top Drummer Award (2008), was impressing music journalists, he was also attracting attention from other musicians, one of them being Eric Clapton. The two met, jammed, saw one another play in their then- current bands, added bass player Jack Bruce and formed Cream. In Baker’s own words they created ‘instant magic’ and began touring earning £45 per show, to later smashing box office records previously set by The Beatles.

After Cream, came Blind Faith. Baker and Clapton were joined by Steve Winwood and Rick Grech to make just one album. When Clapton and Winwood left to further their own projects, the remaining members went on to form jazz rock fusion band ‘Ginger Baker’s Airforce’ adding sax, flute, organ and extra percussion to the band.

During a trip to Africa Baker found himself moved and inspired by Nigerian radio. Despite the war zone in that part of the country he was adamant about visiting Nigeria and pushed to set up a recording studio in Lagos. When it opened as ‘Batakota Studios’ Paul McCartney arrived with Wings to record part of his ‘Band on the Run’ album. Music aside, Africa gave Baker a wonderful climate to live in and a healthier lifestyle than that of rock n roll and touring. He discovered his love for polo and rally driving.

Baker’s work with Airforce and friendship with Fela Kuti pathed the way for Baker’s next musical project: to work with African musicians. A live album was recorded in Abbey Road studios under the name of ‘Fela Ransome- Kuti and Africa 70 with Ginger Baker’. He then went on to form English rock group The Baker Gurvitz Army in which Baker was also involved with providing extra sounds for their debut album. The wheel spins from his Jensen FF were used for their song ‘Mad Jack’. He also rode a wheeled swivel chair backwards down a flight of stairs for a second track on their debut album.

After setting up a second recording studio, this time in North London, Baker formed ‘Energy’. Since then he’s performed at various live events such as Verona’s Percussion Summit and his own unmissable 70^th birthday party with special guest, Steve Winwood, at Camden’s Jazz Café.

But now he is back in the US and formed the quartet, Ginger Baker’s Jazz Confusion…..featuring Pee Wee Ellis, tenor sax, Alec Dankworth, bass and Abbas Dodoo, African percussion. They debuted in April 2012 at Ronnie Scott’s Club in London, and followed with performances in Europe, the UK, and Tokyo.

Bill Blumenreich presents Ginger Baker

Sunday June 29^th 2014 at 7:00pm

The Wilbur is located at 246 Tremont Street in Boston’s Historic Theatre District

Tickets: $25-$55

For more information on Ginger Baker visit www.gingerbaker.com

For more information about The Wilbur and other great events visit wilburboston.wpengine.com