Confabulations

In his five-decade career, finger-style acoustic guitarist Duck Baker has played in lots of styles, from folk (real folk, such as Scottish and Irish fiddle tunes) to blues to jazz, in the latter genre particularly focusing on bebop greats, with whole albums devoted to the music of Thelonious Monk and Herbie Nichols. But he has flashed an avant-garde side as well, and of course ESP-Disk’ was interested in exposing more of the latter work. This album of mostly duos with an all-star roster of mostly British collaborators collects recordings ranging from 1994 through 2017.

Track Listing:

1. Imp Romp 2                                     6:42

2. Shenandoah                                    6:18

3. Indie Pen Dance                             7:51

4. East River Delta Blues                   5:06

5. Ode to Jo                                         3:50

6. Duo for 225 strings                        6:20

7. The Missing Chandler                 11:06

8. Tourbillion Air                                 3:55

9. Pope Slark                                       3:31

10. Signing Off                                    4:49

                                                            59:28

Personnel:

Duck Baker, guitar on all tracks

Derek Bailey, guitar, #3 (7/4/2002)

Steve Beresford, piano, #6 (9/18/2009)

John Butcher, tenor saxophone, #7 (9/19/2009)

Mark Dresser, bass, #2, #9 (1994)

Michael Moore, alto saxophone, #1 (10/10/2008)

Roswell Rudd, trombone, #4, #10 (1/9/2002)

Alex Ward, clarinet; Joe Williamson, bass, #5 (9/12/2010)

Alex Ward, clarinet; John Edwards, bass; Steve Noble, drums, #8 (3/7/2017)

Press Quotes:

“One of the most interesting pickers around.” – Chet Atkins

“He can go from the Mississippi Delta to the rings of Saturn.” – The Village Voice

Re: Spinning Song: The Music of Herbie Nichols:  “one of the best guitar albums ever recorded – by anybody.” – Acoustic Guitar magazine

Re: Deja Vouty (with Alex Ward & John Edwards): “…the locked-in improvising of the trio and the infectious melodic inventions forge a singular identity that is bouncy and fun while complex and occasionally challenging.” – Derk Richardson, The Absolute Sound

Musicians: Roswell Rudd