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Baker's Keyboard Lounge

Coordinates:42°26′43″N83°08′30″W/ 42.4454°N 83.1416°W/42.4454; -83.1416
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Baker's Keyboard Lounge
Map
Address20510Livernois Avenue
Detroit, Michigan

Baker's Keyboard Loungeis ajazzclub located at 20510Livernois AvenueinDetroit, Michigan.It was founded in May 1933 and is the oldest continuously operated jazz club in Detroit.

History

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Early history

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In 1933 Chris and Fannie Baker opened Baker's as a lunchtimesandwichrestaurant.In 1934 their son Clarence Baker began booking jazz pianists,[1]but Baker's was still known at that time principally as a restaurant.[2]In 1939 Clarence took over ownership after Chris had suffered from astroke.That same year, Clarence began booking pianists from outside the Detroit area, although the club featured local pianistPat Flowersfrom 1940 until 1954. In 1952, the club was expanded and remodeled to theArt Decolook that it retains today. By 1954, the business had rapidly expanded, and by the following year, Baker's began featuring major jazz acts, notablyArt Tatumwho played the last two years of his life,Dave Brubeckin 1957 andGerry Mulliganin 1958.[2]During the 1950s "modern"jazzwas less common at Baker's than it was in the 1960s, when the emphasis of the club's music changed toHard Bop.[2]During the 1960s Clarence leased the club out, but resumed personal control in the 1970s.[1]

Baker's is noted for its long history of presenting local and major jazz acts, its excellent acoustics, its intimacy – seating only 99, itsArt Decofurnishings, including a distinctive, piano-shaped bar painted with a keyboard motif, Art Deco style paintings of European city landscapes byHarry Julian Carew,tilted mirrors that allow patrons to view the pianist's hands,[2]and itsSteinway pianowhich was selected and purchased in New York by Tatum for Clarence in the 1950s.[3]The club still displays its original liquor pricelist from 1934, showing the price of beer at 26 cents.[4]

In 1986, Baker's was designated as an Historic Site by the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office. The historic significance of the site is stated as follows:

Baker's Keyboard Lounge has significance as Michigan's jazz mecca and Detroit's oldest jazz club in continuous operation. Founded in May 1933 by Chris Baker as a restaurant and piano bar, the present jazz orientation of the club has been firmly in place since 1939. Baker's Keyboard Lounge has hosted the greatest names in blues and jazz since that date. Some of the musicians who have played the club include: Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Oscar Peterson, George Shearing, Sarah Vaughn, Joe Williams, Maynard Ferguson, Cab Calloway, Woody Herman, Modern Jazz Quartet, and Nat "King" Cole; to name but a few. In 1984, Baker's Keyboard Lounge celebrated fifty-years of the sound of jazz in Detroit and Michigan.[5]

Recent history

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The popularity of the club declined in the 1970s and 1980s, and was nearly closed on several occasions. In 1996, after owning the club for 57 years, Clarence Baker sold the club to John Colbert and Juanita Jackson. The new owners were challenged by declining interests in live jazz performances, due to the aging of the fanbase of jazz purists, a shift to mainstream jazz from the historic Hard Bop emphasis of the club, and the popularity of hip hop. The new ownership attempted to compensate with fundraisers, a reduction in bookings of nationally known acts and emphasis on local artists, and diversifying the lineup to include R&B and comedy acts.[6]The club experienced a resurgence in popularity, but the downturn in the economy led Colbert to declare bankruptcy in 2010, leading to widespread speculation that the club would finally close. In 2011, the club was purchased at a bankruptcy sale, by Hugh W. Smith III, who had been manager of the club for the previous two years and Eric Whitaker Sr. Smith and Whitaker vowed to keep Baker's open as a jazz club.[1][3]

In 2016, The Detroit City Council approved an ordinance to establish the Baker's Keyboard Lounge Historic District, a designation that prevents whoever owns the building from demolishing it or altering its exterior without permission from the Detroit Historic District Commission.[7]

With the economic and cultural resurgence of Detroit, Baker's is again receiving notable media coverage.[8]

Notable performers and performances

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Ella Fitzgerald

Many famous musicians, especially jazz musicians, have played in the club during its history, such asLouis Armstrong,John Coltrane,Oscar Peterson,Fats Waller,Wes Montgomery,[9]Meade Lux,Erroll Garner,Art Tatum,Pat Flowers,Nat King Cole,Ella Fitzgerald,Tommy Flanagan,George Shearing,Chet Baker,Gerry Mulligan,Cab Calloway,Betty Carter,Eddie Jefferson,Kai Winding,theModern Jazz Quartet,Sonny Stitt,Kenny Burrell,Barry Harris,Donald Byrd,Earl Klugh,Pepper Adams,andMiles Davishave all performed at the club.[2]Gene Krupaperformed with his Quartet for several engagements at Baker's.[10]

Terry Pollardwas discovered byTerry Gibbswhile playing at Baker's in 1952–53, subsequently joining the Terry Gibbs Quartet for a national tour.[11]

Baker's is the site of an incident in 1954 involving Miles Davis which is credited by some for Davis breaking his heroin addiction. The widely related version of the story, attributed toRichard (Prophet) Jennings[12][13]is that Davis, while in Detroit playing at theBlue Birdclub (as a guest soloist inBilly Mitchell's house band along with Flanagan,Elvin Jones,Carter,Yusef Lateef,Barry Harris,Thad Jones,Curtis FullerandDonald Byrd) stumbled into Baker's out of the rain, soaking wet and carrying his trumpet in a paper bag under his coat, walked to the bandstand and interruptedMax RoachandClifford Brownin the midst of performing "Sweet Georgia Brown"by beginning to play"My Funny Valentine",and then, after finishing the song, stumbled back into the rainy night. Davis was supposedly embarrassed into getting clean by this incident. In his autobiography, Davis disputed this account, stating that Roach had requested that Davis play with him that night, and that the details of the incident, such as carrying his horn in a paper bag and interrupting Roach and Brown, were fictional and that his decision to quit heroin was unrelated to the incident.[14]

Then-unknownBarbra Streisandperformed at Baker's in 1961.[15]

Charles Mingus's September 1969 performances at Baker's were a part of his comeback in that year.[16]

Klugh credits his frequenting Baker's as a teenager in the early 1970s, chaperoned by his mother, as a significant factor in the development of his music career, enabling him to meet prominent artists who were playing there, such asGeorge Benson,Chick Coreaand Lateef, each of whom he then toured or recorded with, andBill Evanswho was a central influence on Klugh's songwriting.[17]

Jazz singerEddie Jeffersonwas shot and killed at Baker's Keyboard Lounge on May 8, 1979. He had left the club with alto sax manRichie Colearound 1:35 a.m. and was shot while walking out of the building.[18]

Recordings and music videos

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Father Tom Vaughan recorded the 1967RCA VictoralbumMotor City Soulat Baker's.[19]

Woody Shawrecorded his posthumously released 1997 albumBemsha SwingforBlue Noteat Baker's in 1986, along withGeri Allen,Robert HurstandRoy Brooks.[20][21]

In 1987,Anita Bakerfilmed themusic videofor the track "Same Ole Love"from her albumRaptureat Baker's.[22]

SaxophonistJames Carterrecorded the albumLive at Baker's Keyboard Lounge,also featuringDavid Murray,Franz JacksonandJohnny Griffinat Baker's in June 2001.[23]

Cultural references

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Baker's piano-shaped bar inspiredLiberaceto install his famous piano-shaped swimming pool at his home in Beverly Hills.[24]

The 2002 documentary filmStanding in the Shadows of Motownincludes film of a performance by theFunk Brothersat Baker's.[25]

Kenny Dixon Jr.'s 2004 albumBlack Mahoganiincludes the track "Back at Bakers (on Livernois)"[26]

Baker's is the setting for a performance by one of the principal characters in Cheryl Robinson's 2005 novelIf It Ain't One Thing.[27]

Baker's is the scene of a chapter in E.M. and Esther Bronner's 2010 novel,The Red Squad.[28]

Baker's is referenced on theABCpolice procedural dramaDetroit 1-8-7.[29]

Baker's is mentioned by theCatherine O'Haracharacter Dusty Towne in a skit called "The Dusty Towne Sexy Holiday Special" onSCTV.She introducesAndrea Martin,playing aSolid Gold Dancer,as her first guest saying, "You know, the special thing about her is that I used to work with her mother at Baker's Keyboard Lounge in Detroit."[30]

Baker's is featured in a scene in the 2012 film,Sparkle.[31]

See also

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References

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  1. ^abcWhitall, Susan, "New owners vow to keep Baker's music alive",Detroit News(February 1, 2011)
  2. ^abcdeBjorn, Lars & Gallert, JimBefore Motown: A History of Jazz in DetroitUniversity of Michigan Press, 2001ISBN978-0-472-06765-7p 117
  3. ^abStryker, Mark, "New owners rescue Baker's Keyboard Lounge - and fulfill a dream,Detroit Free Press(January 31, 2011)
  4. ^"Baker's Keyboard Lounge through the years",Detroit Free Press(Photo 15)
  5. ^""Baker's Keyboard Lounge", Michigan State Historic Preservation Office ".Archived fromthe originalon 2012-05-28.Retrieved2011-02-03.
  6. ^Senghor, Shaka, "Baker's Keyboard Lounge faces bankruptcy, uncertainty",The Michigan Citizen
  7. ^Guillen, Joe, "Baker's Keyboard Lounge granted historic designation",Detroit Free Press(March 15, 2016)
  8. ^Millar, Aaron, "Dazzled by Detroit: how Motown got its groove back",The Guardian(January 28, 2018)
  9. ^"50 Years Ago…The Year Was 1968".
  10. ^"Talent on tour",Billboard(September 28, 1963) p 15
  11. ^Everett, Aubrey, "Jazz Pianist Terry Pollard dies at 78",Jazz Times(December 22, 2009)
  12. ^Crawford, Mark, "Miles Davis: Evil genius of jazz",Ebony(January 1961) pp.69-74
  13. ^Neisenson, Eric,Round About Midnight: A Portrait of Miles DavisDa Capo Press, 1996ISBN978-0-306-80684-1pp 88-89
  14. ^Davis, Miles and Troup, Quincy,Miles, the Autobiography,Simon and Schuster, 1990ISBN978-0-671-72582-2pp 173-174
  15. ^Popple, Robert,John Arpin: Keyboard VirtuosoDundurn Press Ltd., 2009ISBN978-1-55002-866-9p113
  16. ^Santoro, Gene,Myself When I am Real: The Life and Music of Charles MingusOxford University Press US, 2001ISBN978-0-19-514711-7p281
  17. ^"Earl Klugh",Jazz Times
  18. ^"Suspect arrested in slaying of jazz vocalist in Detroit",Associated PressreprintedToledo Blade(May 10, 1979)
  19. ^Ober, Chick "New Records, Tapes",St. Petersburg Times(December 28, 1967).
  20. ^Dulzo, Jim, "Roy Brooks: Hard Bob, hard time",Jazz Times(October 2002).
  21. ^Shoemaker, Bill, "Jazz Reviews: Bemsha Swing",Jazz Times(December 1997).
  22. ^"People are talking about...",Jet(April 6, 1987), p. 53.
  23. ^Kelsey, Chris, "Jazz Reviews: Live at Baker's Keyboard Lounge",Jazz Times(June 2004).
  24. ^Bird, Christianne,DeCapo Jazz and Blues Lover's Guide to the U.S.Da Capo Press, 2001ISBN978-0-306-81034-3p. 307
  25. ^Schuster, Fred, "Studio musicians emerge from Motown",Los Angeles Daily NewsreprintedGainesville Sun(November 24, 2002), p 1D
  26. ^"Moodymann - Black Mahogani"Discogs
  27. ^Robinson, Cheryl,If It Ain't One ThingPenguin, 2005ISBN978-0-451-21405-8p25ff
  28. ^Bronner, E.M. and Bronner, Esther,The Red SquadRandom House, Inc., 2010 9780307455840 p 19ff
  29. ^Foley, Aaron, "'Detroit 1-8-7' Season 1, Episode 9 recap: A return to bad form, and the Boston-Edison drinking game",MLive.com(December 1, 2010)
  30. ^The Dusty Towne Sexy Holiday Special, SCTV Channel
  31. ^Lacy, Eric, "Baker's Keyboard Lounge hosts grand re-opening events to honor historic jazz venue" MLive.com (September 5, 2012)
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42°26′43″N83°08′30″W/ 42.4454°N 83.1416°W/42.4454; -83.1416

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