David Baker

Full biography David Baker

David Nathaniel Baker Jr ). was an American jazz musician, composer, and conductor originally from Indianapolis, Indiana. He was born on December 21, 1931, and passed away on March 26, 2016. Baker was renowned for his contributions to jazz studies in academia, as well as his prolific output as a composer and arranger.

Baker's music was marked by his passion for jazz and his unique ability to fuse it with other genres of music, including classical music. He was known for composing jazz works as well as concert music that reflected his jazz roots. Baker's music was performed by numerous instrumentalists and ensembles in the United States and around the world.

Throughout his career, Baker wrote 70 books on jazz composition, improvisation, and arranging. He was also a sought-after lecturer, clinician, and educator. Baker served as an educator and administrator at Indiana University, where he founded the jazz studies program. He had a significant impact on the growth and development of jazz education in schools, making jazz a legitimate subject of academic study.

Baker was the recipient of many prestigious awards and honors, including the National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Award, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Jazz Educators Network, and the James Smithson Medal from the Smithsonian Institution. IU renamed a street in honor of David Baker in February of 2022.

Overall, David Baker was one of the most significant jazz figures of the 20th century. His contributions to jazz education, composition, performance, and arranger make him a true icon of jazz music.