"Quite simply, Duck Baker is the premier American fingerstyle guitarist." Sing Out 2005.
"He can go from the Mississippi Delta to the rings of Saturn" The Village Voice 2006.
Duck Baker is one of the most highly regarded fingerstyle guitarists of his generation. His repertoire ranges from traditional Irish music through old-time mountain music and bluegrass to blues, gospel, ragtime, swing and modern jazz. Baker has a reputation as a virtuoso but his performances depend as much on his humorous and informative stage manner and relaxed, tuneful vocals as on technical bravura. Bakers greatest success has come in the guitar world; his arrangements have influenced hundreds of players who have learned from his books and recordings, and his compositions have been recorded by other pickers like Stefan Grossman, John Renbourn, Pat Kirtley, and Joe Miller. He has appeared at guitar festivals and concerts all over America and Europe, but it is perhaps more important to realize that he has made a considerable name for himself in several different musical camps. Unlike some guitarists who borrow superficially from various traditions for their solo performances, Baker has developed by learning to play each style in group situations and basing his solo arrangements on that experience.
Duck was born Richard R. Baker IV in 1949 and grew up in Richmond, Virginia. His teenage years were devoted to playing in rock and blues bands before becoming interested in fingerpicking blues in local coffeehouses. Ragtime pianist Buck Evans was a major influence on Bakers evolution, exposing the young guitarist to ragtime and early jazz at a time when they had been largely forgotten. By the time he moved to San Francisco in the early seventies, Duck was performing the wide range of material heard on his first record, Theres Something for Everyone in America (Kicking Mule Records, 1976).
In the late seventies, Baker recorded four more solo records, including two devoted to jazz and the first solo guitar record of Irish and Scottish music. He also began touring as a soloist, traveling throughout North America, Western Europe, and Australia. He eventually moved to Europe where he was based for nine years before returning to San Francisco in 1986. He became a familiar figure at Irish pub sessions in London, and in the mid-eighties formed a musical association with County Galway fiddler Kieran Fahy which has continued to the present day. He has also toured with the esteemed Irish singer/flutist Maggie Boyle.
Bakers recordings after 1980 have for the most part focused on his own compositions, but he also made recordings of blues and gospel material, a collection of early European Christmas carols, a collaboration with Kieran Fahy, another with jazz guitarist Jamie Findlay, and two highly acclaimed CDs with the great Appalachian traditional singer Molly Andrews. His recording of compositions by jazz pianist Herbie Nichols, Spinning Song is probably his most ambitious and well-received project to date. Acoustic Guitar magazine called it one of the best guitar albums ever recorded - by anybody. Baker has also written several books on fingerstyle guitar, made numerous tutorial videos, and has several sound tracks to his credit.
As of 2006, Baker is working in various ongoing combinations as time permits: with guitarists Jamie Findlay, Woody Mann, Eric Lugosch and Bill Kirchen, bassist Mark Dresser, and trombone legend Roswell Rudd. Hes also a member of the exciting traditional trio, The Expatriate Game, with singer/flautist Maggie Boyle and fiddler Ben Paley, and he leads a London-based jazz trio that features clarinetist Alex Ward and bassist Joe Williamson.
Duck Baker is a true genius of the guitar. - Stefan Grossman 2006.
Duck has discovered a way to write which is purely and originally beautiful.
I think he sets a standard we all can aspire to. - Leo Kottke.
Listening to Duck Baker makes me feel good. - Charlie Byrd.
"One of the most interesting pickers around" - Chet Atkins.
feel a bit lost here, between all those guitar pickers. Was happy to find you on myspace. Any plans for another visit to Brussels in the near future? Last time we heard you was with Molly Andrews in Le Travers. Great gig, but already a good while ago... All the best and hope to see/hear ye soon,
Just to say it was a real pleasure to perform in support of you on Wednesday. It was wonderful to hear you perform so fluidly across such a diverse variety of genres.
Hoping our musical paths will cross again, and I'll prepare some traditional material for when they do!
Hi Duck greeting i see you in sassari some month ago and in florence in seminario at lizard school....yeaahhhhh you have an incredible grooove.....ciao ciao salutoni mastelli da Zizzu Zimula!!!!!
Hi Duck, I've loved your style of playing since listening to you on an old Kicking Mule ragtime compilation album when you did a very exciting version of Joplin's "Maple Leaf Rag", which to me, is the finest guitar version I have ever heard of that tune. I love your fingerstyle jazz too. Thanks for adding me.
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