Breakdown Lane: Free Solos & Duos 1976-1998

Liner notes: Duck Baker Should Be a National Treasure. He Should Be an International Treasure.

Should be? In my book he already is. I first came across his work in the 1970s on early Kicking Mule LPs in my local library in the UK, which was his temporary base then, and is his permanent home now. Many years later I was astounded by Spinning Song, his CD of Herbie Nichols compositions. Around the same time, I made contact with him by way of thanks following a review he wrote of my work on Stuff Smith and, later, other historic violinistic books and CDs. I say that by way of disclosure.

Duck’s knowledge and learning about the ancestry of so many musical genres is prodigious, whether jazz, avant-garde, improvisation in general, various forms of country music, Irish, blues, ragtime, swing, you name it. He draws on so much to make his own unique playing and composing. And none of it is to go by the troublesome term “appropriation” Duck absorbs, pays tribute, and is himself, wherever his fingers might move across his flamenco guitar, including, of course, its wood body.

This previously unreleased collection consists of fourteen solos and two duos with Eugene Chadbourne. The performances are drawn mostly from demo sessions or live recordings, and were recorded at various locations between 1976 and 1998. They run the gamut of moods and tempos, from the reflective “Peace” and brooding “Like Flies” to burners that rank with Baker’s most animated free playing on record, like the title track, “No Family Planning,” and “Buffalo Fire.” The only so-to-speak standards are Thelonious Monk’s “Straight, No Chaser” and Billy Strayhorn’s “Take the ‘A’ Train,” the latter featuring fascinating and humorous interplay between the two guitarists.

Duck’s fingerstyle playing is unmistakable, in whatever genre. No one else sounds like him. Of guitarists, Duck reveals that Sonny Sharrock was an early influence for his free jazz/free improv style, and Derek Bailey a somewhat later one. Technically, the soloing of bass players such as Charles Mingus was a greater influence. But his main influences have been horn players, among them Eric Dolphy, Archie Shepp, Ornette Coleman, Jimmy Lyons, and Albert Ayler, as well as the piano playing of Cecil Taylor, to the extent that it is possible to transfer their intensities to acoustic guitar. We might say that there is an intricate delicacy to Duck’s intensity.

Duck’s catalogue is now vast, including a recent CD release of Thelonious Monk compositions, which beautifully complements the aforementioned Nichols CD. As well as solo efforts, past records include collaborations with the likes of Chadbourne, Roswell Rudd, John Zorn, and John Butchers or, at the other end of the spectrum, Stefan Grossman, John Renbourn, Leo Kottke, Molly Andrews, and Maggie Boyle.

I, for one, never tire of listening to Duck playing in whatever context. He is a master and every recording is a gem.—Anthony Barnett

NOTE: for downloads, please go to Breakdown Lane: Free Solos & Duos 1976-1998 | Duck Baker (bandcamp.com)

Personnel: Duck Baker, guitar. Featuring Eugene Chadbourne, guitar, on 14 and 15.

 Track Listing:

1. Allah, Perhaps

2. Peace

3. No Family Planning 1

4. Klee

5. Like Flies (Requiem for Bobby Fussell)

6. Breakdown Lane

7. Yewatta

8. Buffalo Fire

9. No Family Planning 2

10. Eusebia’s Lament

11. 47 East Houston St.

12. 2:29 in Unleavenworth

13. Sonadem Sol

14. Breakdown Lane (duo version)

15. Take the ‘A’ Train

16. Straight, No Chaser

All compositions by Duck Baker except “Peace” by Ornette Coleman, “Take the ‘A’ Train” by Billy Strayhorn, and “Straight, No Chaser” by Thelonious Monk.

Musicians: Duck Baker