David Baker

David Nathaniel Baker, Jr (21 December 1931 – 26 March 2016) was an extraordinarily accomplished composer, author, conductor, and teacher; and among the most influential voices in contemporary American music in a career that spanned over five decades. Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, David Baker grew up in the rich musical tradition of the black community, in the world of church and gospel music, blues and rhythm & blues, and jazz. He trained as a classical musician and composer at Indiana University, where he later became Distinguished Professor of Music and Chairman of the Jazz Department. Baker also served as conductor and artistic director of the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra. A virtuoso performer on multiple instruments and top in his field in several disciplines, Mr. Baker taught and performed throughout the USA, Canada, Europe, Scandinavia, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. Over the course of his multifaceted career, David received numerous awards, including the The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Living Jazz Legend Award, National Association of Jazz Educators Hall of Fame Award, the James Smithson Medal from the Smithsonian Institution, and an Emmy Award for his musical score documentary For Gold and Glory. He served a number of times on the Pulitzer Prize Music Jury and was Chair of the Jazz Faculty of the Steans Institute for Young Artists at the Ravinia Festival in Chicago, IL. His compositions total more than 2,000 in number, including jazz and symphonic works, chamber music, and ballet and film scores.

Titles:

• 1990 R00078 – Alabama Landscape
• 1989 R00079 – Alto Saxophone Concerto “Lee Konitz”
• 1978 SJ772001 – An Evening Thought
• 2001/2025 X138003 – And Then
• 1991 X511007 – Blues (Deliver My Soul)
• 1990 X131005 – Clarinet Sonata
• 1991 R00085 – Concert Piece for Trombone and String Orchestra
• 2006 R01367 – Concertino for Cellular Phones
• 1987 R00082 – Concerto for Cello and Jazz Band
• 1987 R00083 – Concerto for Trumpet, String Orchestra, and Jazz Band
• 1976 R00080 – Concerto for Two Pianos, Jazz Band, Strings, and Percussion
• 1969 R00084 – Concerto for Violin and Jazz Band
• 1989 R00086 – Concertpiece for Viola and Orchestra
• 1989 X521001 – Concertpiece for Viola and Piano
• 1976 X503010 – Contrasts
• 2023 X132001 – Duo for Clarinet and Bass Clarinet
• 1988 X622501 – Duo for Clarinet and Cello
• 1982 S511005 – Ethnic Variations on a Theme of Paganini
• 1988 X155002 – Faces of the Blues
• 1970 X410010 – Five Short Pieces
• 1989 X111002 – Flute Sonata
• 1975 X816506 – Give and Take
• 1988 R00090 – Homage: Bartok, Bird, Duke
• 1961 SJ772002 – Honesty
• 1990 R00091 – Images of Childhood
• 1988 X532002 – Impressions
• 1987 X111003 – Inspiration
• 1989 S410004 – Jazz Dance Suite
• 1979 X511002 – Jazz Suite
• 1993 R00092 – Jazz Suite for Clarinet and Orchestra: Three Ethnic Dances
• 1988 R00093 – Life Cycles for Tenor, Horn and Strings (piano reduction/soli parts)
• 1992 R00094 – Parallel Planes
• 1968 S410012 – Piano Sonata No. 1
• 1988 R00095 – Piece for Brass Quintet and Orchestra
• 1990 X245001 – Piece for Solo Tuba/ Tuba Quartet
• 1987 X505012 – Quintet for String Quartet and Cello
• 1986 R00096 – Reflections on a Summer’s Day
• 1998 R01189 – Refractions
• 1976 X503046 – Roots I
• 1992 X503002 – Roots II
• SJ772008 – Screemin Meemies
• 1993 R00099 – Shades of Blue
• 1981 S628502 – Singers of Songs, Weavers of Dreams for Cello and Percussion
• 1981 S111002 – Six Poemes Noir
• 1977 SJ772004 – Soft Summer Rain
• 1989 R00100 – Some Not So Plain Old Blues for Voice and Violin Soli with Mixed Sextet
• 1987 X505018 – Sonata for Jazz Violin and String Quartet
• 1971 X505015 – Sonata for Piano and String Quintet
• 1990 X530001 – Sonata for Solo Cello
• 1982 S645001 – Sonata for Tuba and String Quartet
• 1991 X511006 – Sonata for Violin and Piano
• 1980 X662503 – Sonata for Violin, Cello, and Four Flutes
• 1985 X660501 – Suite for Horn and Jazz Combo
• 1986 X665001 – Suite for Horn and String Quintet
• 1981 S510001 – Suite for Unaccompanied Violin
• 2002 R01233 – Suite from The Masque of the Red Death Ballet
• 1988 X504013 – Summer Memories
• 1971 X105007 – Theme and Variations for Woodwind Quintet
• 1971 X505016 – Theme And Variations from Sonata for Piano And String Quintet
• 1986 X815403 – Through this Vale of Tears: In Memoriam: Martin Luther King, Jr. for Tenor or Soprano and Piano Quintet
• 1990 X815002 – Witness: Six Original Compositions in Spiritual Style for Baritone and Double Bass
• 1971 X105001 – Woodwind Quintet No. 1
• 1971 X105002 – Woodwind Quintet: From “The Black Frontier”