Margie Baker Sings with So Many Stars

About “So Many Stars”

Margie Baker’s careful phrasing, passion, and relaxed delivery make the difficult art of jazz vocals seem easy. After all, she acquired and polished her skills for a long time, with part-time gigs since 1972; though only at the age of 70, when she retired from a career in education (she has a doctorate), has she sharply focused her art. This is her fourth album since then. Comfortable and mellow with a dash of Latin and blues, these 2 discs and 20 tracks make a fine survey of familiar mainstream jazz tunes plus a new work, Mood for Mr. Moody. The constellation of Bay Area musical stars gathered around her perfectly complements her vocals; John Santos, to bring out the Latin percussive beat, Jules Brussard and his brilliant blues saxophone voice, fellow reedman Melecio Magdaluyo, trombonist Danny Armstrong [great solo in “You’ve Changed”], bassists Chuck Bennett and Harley White, the guitarists Rodney Jones, Bob Brumbeloe, and Duncan James, drummers Rhoyalbaib Foston and Jerry Pannone, pianist Keith Williams, and program keyboardist, who mimics a string section, Shota Osabe. Her guiding star was Dizzy Gillespie, who introduced her to many influential musicians, including James Moody. Dr. Baker’s somewhat strained 80-year old voice now shows her age, but her style is consistent. They do justice to the tunes of Horace Silver, Thelonious Monk, and Duke Ellington. Package notes present comments and some biographical information on each musician along with their photograph. My favored tracks are Go Away Little Boy, her own Mood for Mr. Moody (in a different guise, Brussard is on saxophone), and Lucky So and So. There is much musical joy here.