Special Events!!

In the band with Dr. Bobby Rodriguez at LACMA

Dr. B being honored September 9, 2024 as an LA Jazz Treasure by the Los Angeles Jazz Society. So much fun working with these great musicians. Dr. B leading the charge with Paul Kreibich, Brian O’Rourke, Randall Willis, Ricky Woodard & me!

Joe Weinroth was there and took some wonderful pics!

My band with special guest Dr. Bobby Rodriguez at 1st annual Local 47 Jazz Festival

That was my September highlight gig.

August had a wonderful highlight gig for the Leslie Baker Trio at one of LA’s biggest conventions. We performed for government people working in the arts, especially libraries.

Leslie Baker Trio Central Library DTLA with Ken Park & Brian O’Rourke
Mike Velasco and Grant

My wonderful and favorite so far (he’s my 1st & only) husband Joe Weinroth lost his very best lifelong friend at the beginning of this year, Mike Velasco. I wanted to make some music in honor of Mike, a world famous motorcycle mechanic & innovator.

I’ve been friends with his family since I’m with Joe. Love and prayers for Mike’s wife Alana. Their 1st daughter MiShell was in Alana’s womb when Mike & Alana came to party at my gig in Burbank CA. Alana told me that night was the 1st night she felt a kick inside from MiShell. How exciting for me!! that girl was digging my groove before she even popped out!

Here’s my original music I came up with entitled El Vel

that was aka Mike Velasco RIP

Summer ’24

It’s been too long since I added videos at my YouTube channel youtube.com/lesliebaker

So I got to work behind the computer and hunckered down to put more of my music online for you all to enjoy, share, comment, like etc.

I am booking live events for my band. That’s been going great!

The one and only Barbara Morrison (RIP) is the star of this video. We were very close & I loved being near her.

Always great to be with Albert Trepagnier Jr. from New Orleans on drums!!

From my CD Askew Too I’ve digitized my original song “Rain Dance” and given it a new use @YouTube.com/lesliebaker

Thanks to Kevin Rhoades @backrhoadesproductions.com for creating the concert event Leslie Baker Quartet at the Sherry in noho

With drummer extraordinaire, my soul brother Ken Park!!

To round out this post I’m including a video of another original song of mine. This one includes group vocals including my singing & bass playing. This is the one we can perform at live events….

Leslie Baker Trio/Band

The people I’m connecting with can lead to ???? I’ll keep you somewhat posted here as best I can. Thanks for stopping by the website…..

Here’s a link to hear my music. No synthesizers or computers were harmed in the production of this music.

Up & Running (walking) from 2022 into 2023…..

Little by little the schedule keeps getting more filled in and interesting.

I surprise myself over how much I truly love to perform music live!

Urban Press Winery in Burbank CA is turning into a fun spot I make appearances at…

Leslie Baker Trio with John Balbuena & Ken Park @ Urban Press Winery, Burbank CA

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And that was just over a year ago…

Shaking off the dust somehow preparing for who knows what?!

Like I said, making gigs with talented people I like has so lifted my spirit.

My Hollywood Hang

“Don’t know what you got ’til it gone” Thankfully the school program sponsored by Los Angeles Jazz Society & others sailed once again in 2023 after a no go in 2021 & 2022.

Memories of NAMM show mostly right before Covid & the New Years Eve gig that took us into 2020

There’s a lot more going on. This is a taste. I’m feeling stronger, grateful, writing new original music, lots of exploring musical directions…& a bunch of real cool gigs!!

#lesliebakerbass #bakerbass

Variety keeps it Spicy

I enjoy making music in many flavors.  Let me know when I can make some for you.

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All by myself, I’m beginning to see the light….

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Cello Sonata on Bass 6-5-18

 

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Something’s Coming

Leslie bandleader for event honoring the fantastic Carol Kaye

Caltech Orchestra Basses

A party jam with Kim Richmond and Milton Nelson

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Thanks Gordon for giving me a bass spot on Sunset Strip

Jazz in the Schools Bakerbass
LAJS Jazz in Schools
Dr. Bobby Rodriguez Band

New Orleans in the House

Blues Hurricane blowin’ with me and Dena

Bass is bass, acoustic or electric, I love it and it keeps me busy.  How thankful I am for all of that!!

All photos by Joe Weinroth except where otherwise noted.

My blogging is Infrequent

James leads the charge Bassed

10-14-17 bakerbass
At the World Stage with James Leary’s Bass Choir

I have a better than before website thanks to help from Paul and Neva Chevalier.

Plus I have been doing a lot of music work which I love.  To contribute to the sound from the bottom of it all is a special pleasure for me especially with musicians I relate to and who appreciate what I bring.

Now for me to make my website even better I need to blog a little more often.  That’s how this WordPress deal rolls.  On the pages of the site are lots of cool more “permanent things” for you who want to go into it.  I think the blog comes up first in a lot of formats so I’ll do what I can to inform you more often of my current musical activities. So here goes!

This coming Saturday evening October 14, 2017 I will perform special arrangements of Thelonius Monk music arranged by James Leary for his Bass Choir—5 acoustic basses and Clayton Cameron on drums.  We’ll be at the World Stage at 8:00 pm as part of the tenth annual Angel City Jazz Festival celebrating Monk’s centennial.  This performance is part of World Music Days,  an organization founded  by Daniel Pearl’s parents  to promote peace through music.  Harmony for Humanity is their slogan.  October is the month of Daniel Pearl’s birthday so World Music Days celebrate his memory during the month of October.  Daniel Pearl grew up in Encino.  He was a reporter for the Wall Street Journal and he also played violin jamming with people he met all over the world on his journalist assignments.  He was executed by terrorists in 2002.  There was a movie made about him (Angelina Jolie).  In his memory any performers who wish to acknowledge him are invited to do so during October.

I look forward to performing this season with the Cal Tech Symphony at the Ramo Auditorium on the Cal Tech campus in Pasadena CA under the direction of conductor Dr. Allen R. Gross.  Our upcoming concert is scheduled for matinees on November 18 (2:30 pm) and November 19 (3:30 pm).  These are open to the public at no charge.

I have currently released an album of songs entitled “Good Vibes” recorded and produced by my team. The music is available to hear online (at this website).  Specially packaged physical copies are available in limited supply.  The music is all done by three people, myself, Tyler Combs and Ken Park pretty much first takes–a “live in the studio” concept recorded and mixed by Paul Chevalier.

Thank you to all the band leaders who give me a great variety of things to do, please continue!  My calendar at the website will let you know how the dates are happening.  In addition thanks to all the fans and friends who support my endeavors.   The beat goes on……..