David Nathaniel Baker Jr. American jazz composer and teacher Date of Birth: 21.12.1931 Country: USA

Biography of David Nathaniel Baker Jr.

David Nathaniel Baker Jr. is an American jazz composer and educator. He is widely regarded as one of the leading symphonic jazz composers of our time and a professor at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University in Bloomington.

David Baker was born on December 21, 1931, in Indianapolis, Indiana. He attended Crispus Attucks High School and later became a student at Indiana University, where he earned both a bachelor's and master's degree. He gained recognition in the Indianapolis jazz scene as a mentor to his fellow musician, trumpeter Freddie Hubbard.

Initially, Baker showed great promise as a talented trombonist but had to give up this career path due to a jaw injury that left him unable to play. However, he did showcase his trombone skills on the album 'Ezz-thetics' by the George Russell Sextet after sustaining the injury. Baker then transitioned to playing the cello, a rare instrument in the jazz world. This shift marked the end of his performing career and the beginning of a heightened interest in composition and teaching.

Baker was among the first and most significant musicians to systematize jazz, which was previously largely based on oral tradition. He authored several books on jazz, including 'Jazz Improvisation.' As a teacher, he helped transform Indiana University into a renowned institution for aspiring musicians.

Among his notable students are contemporary jazz masters such as Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, Peter Erskine, Jim Beard, Chris Botti, Jeff Hamilton, and renowned jazz educator Jamey Aebersold.

In 1973, Baker was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and in 1979, he received a Grammy Award nomination. He was a three-time recipient of Down Beat magazine's award and was also honored with the National Association of Jazz Educators Hall of Fame Award in 1981, the Indiana University President's 'Award for Distinguished Teaching' in 1986, the Arts Midwest Jazz Masters Award in 1990, and the Governor's Arts Award of the State of Indiana in 1991.

Baker's compositions often exemplify the works of the third jazz movement, although his music spans a wide range of styles, from traditional jazz compositions for improvisation to symphonic pieces. He has written over 2000 works, including sonatas and film soundtracks, and has collaborated with over 500 individual musicians and ensembles, including Josef Gingold, Ruggerio Ricci, Janos Starker, the New York Philharmonic, the Beaux Arts Trio, the Ohio Chamber Orchestra, the Fisk Jubilee Singers, and others.

In recent years, Baker's 'Concertino for Cell Phones and Orchestra' premiered in Chicago to critical acclaim. As a teacher, composer, and performer, Baker is a member of numerous musical organizations, including the National Council on the Arts, American Symphony Orchestra League, Arts Midwest, and the Jazz Advisory Panel at the Kennedy Center. He served as the president of the International Association of Jazz Educators and currently leads the National Jazz Service Organization and consults on music programs for the Smithsonian Institution.

Baker has released over 65 recordings, authored 70 books, and written 400 articles. For nearly two decades, he performed alongside his wife, flutist Lida Baker. They have one daughter named April and a teenage granddaughter. Pianist Monika Herzig from Indiana University is currently working on a book about Baker's life, although the release date is not yet known.