Chase Baird
David "Chase" Baird (born March 18, 1988) is an American saxophonist, composer and songwriter.[1]
Chase Baird | |
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Background information | |
Born | Seattle, Washington, United States | March 18, 1988
Genres | Jazz, rock, electronic |
Occupation(s) | Musician, composer |
Instruments | Saxophone, EWI |
Labels | Soundsabound Records |
Website | chasebaird |
Biography
Early life
Baird was born in Seattle, Washington.[2] He was exposed to music at an early age by his father, a trumpet player who played in rock bands and doubled on an eclectic collection of instruments, including saxophone, flute, Rhodes, synthesizer and percussion.[3][2] His family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1996. He began to play the saxophone around age ten, eventually studied jazz and improvisation for several years with saxophonist Alan Braufman.[2]
During his teenage years, Baird became highly influenced by the music of saxophonist Michael Brecker. A chance encounter with drummer Jeff Hamilton inspired Baird to try to connect with Brecker directly for music lessons. After making contact via Brecker's manager, Brecker agreed to meet in person next time he traveled through Salt Lake City in early 2003. Although brief, Baird cites Brecker's mentorship around this time as influential on the trajectory of his career.[1][2][4][3]
In 2004, Baird's family moved to the San Francisco Bay Area. He began to collaborate with other young musicians, including pianist Julian Waterfall Pollack.[5] He graduated from Acalanes High School in Lafayette, California in 2006.[6]
2006–present
Baird attended Diablo Valley College for one year, where he studied as a psychology major. He later transferred to California State University, Long Beach to study music, notably with saxophonists Eric Marienthal, Sal Lozano and Jay Mason and program director Jeff Jarvis. He left program after two years and eventually relocated to New York City, where he enrolled at The Juilliard School (studying with Ron Blake, Frank Kimbrough, Rodney Jones, Kendall Briggs and others) and completed an undergraduate degree in 2014.[7][1][7][8][9][3]
In 2009, he was featured in the soundtrack to Emancipated, a film by P.K. Ziainia with music by composer Rodrigo Denis.[10]
Baird recorded and released his debut album, Crosscurrent, in 2010. The album featured pianist Julian Waterfall Pollack, guitarist John Storie, bassist Christopher Tordini, drummer Steve Lyman and percussionist James Yoshizawa.[11][12]
Baird joined drummer Antonio Sánchez's group Migration in 2018, recording both saxophone and Electronic Wind Instrument on the group's critically acclaimed album Lines in the Sand.[13] The same year, he began to co-lead the band Venture, alongside drummer Mike Clark, vibraphonist Mark Sherman and electric bassist Felix Pastorius. The group released their first album Life Cycle on Ropeadope Records, featuring six originals by Sherman as well as Clark's "Loft Funk" and Baird's "Do You Remember The Beginning?".[14][9]
In spring 2019, he collaborated with drummer Steve Lyman to compose, record and produce the electro-acoustic composition Pulsar.[15] Baird also released his second album as a leader in August 2019, A Life Between, featuring Antonio Sánchez, Brad Mehldau, Nir Felder and Dan Chmielinski, on Soundsabound Records.[9][16]
He has also worked as a sideman with artists including Chaka Khan, Matthew Morrison, Thana Alexa, Jakob Dylan, Mike Stern, Antonio Farao, Diana Degarmo, Chloe Agnew, Circuit Kisser, Steve Lyman, the Kyle Athayde Dance Party, and the Mingus Big Band.[11][17][18][19][4][20][1]
Selected discography
As leader
- Pulsar (Outside In Music, 2020) with Steve Lyman, J3PO (Julian Pollack) & Dan Chmielinski
- A Life Between (Soundsabound Records, 2019) with Brad Mehldau, Nir Felder, Dan Chmielinski and Antonio Sanchez[21]
- Crosscurrent (Junebeat Records, 2010) with Julian Pollack, John Storie, Chris Tordini, Steve Lyman and James Yoshizawa[11][12]
As co-leader
- Life Cycle (Ropeadope Records, 2018) with Mark Sherman, Felix Pastorius and Mike Clark
As sideman
- Force Tranquille – Jean-marie Corrois (Independent, 2020)
- Faking The Moon Landing – Circuit Kisser (Soundsabound Records, 2019)
- Lines in the Sand – Antonio Sanchez & Migration (CAM Jazz, 2018)[22]
- Language of Sound and Spirit – Joshua Maxey (Independent, 2012)[23]
- Hunter – Morgan James (Epic, 2014)[24]
- Celebration of Soul – Joshua Maxey (Independent, 2015)[25]
References
- Kolhasse, Bill. "On Principle: Saxophonist Chase Baird" (HMTL). Pasatiempo. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
- Self, Alisha. "Meet saxophone prodigy Chase Baird". Park Record. Archived from the original (HMTL) on August 10, 2014. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
- Sollitto, Zach. "Sax Man Chase Baird on Hanging with Brecker, East Coast vs. West Coast, Ditching the Doubles, and More" (HMTL). Best Saxophone Website Ever. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
- Panken, Ted. "Colleagues, Collaborators Remember Michael Brecker in NYC Concert" (HMTL). Down Beat. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
- Wiegand, David. "Julian Pollack in Mendocino for Family Biz" (HMTL). San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
- "MJF Announces Next Generation Jazz Orchestra" (HMTL). Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- Taylor, Tim. "Chase Baird – Crosscurrent – Junebeat Records" (HMTL). Audiophile Audition. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
- "Juilliard Jazz Ensembles Perform Student Original Compositions". Juilliard Journal. Archived from the original (HMTL) on December 27, 2016. Retrieved December 26, 2016.
- Hélary, Sébastien. "Stream Saxophonist Chase Baird's Lead Single "Ripcord" Off 'A Life Between' (Premiere)" (HMTL). Nextbop. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
- "Emancipated: Full Cast & Crew" (HMTL). IMDb. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
- Wiegand, David. "CD Review: Chase Baird, Crosscurrent" (HMTL). San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
- Lindsay, Bruce. "Chase Baird: Crosscurrent". All About Jazz. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
- Shteamer, Hank. "Song You Need to Know: Antonio Sanchez, 'Bad Hombres y Mujeres'" (HMTL). Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
- "Venture, LIVE at the Falcon" (HMTL). Poughkeepsie Journal. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
- Steve Lyman (July 9, 2019). Steve Lyman Pulsar Performance. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
- Chinen, Nate. "Take Five, All-Star Edition: Bold New Music by Crosscurrents Trio, Kris Davis, Tim Ries & More" (HMTL). WGBO. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
- "Chase Baird" (HMTL). Retrieved March 13, 2018.
- Ben Ali Zinati, Kevin. "From Birdman to the unique magic of the Blue Note. No words, only applause for Antonio Sanchez" (HMTL). La Provincia di Varese. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
- "Antonio Faraò alla Nave de Vero" (HMTL). Il Gazzettino. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
- Collar Holden, Stephen. "Cool Song-and-Dance Man Coolly Sings and Dances: Matthew Morrison's Show Nods to Cory Monteith at 54 Below" (HMTL). The New York Times. Retrieved September 8, 2014.
- "Chase Baird" (HMTL). Retrieved March 20, 2018.
- "Antonio Sánchez and Migration, Lines in the Sand, CAM Jazz **** recommended" (HMTL). Marlbank. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
- "Josh Maxey: The Language Of Sound And Spirit" (HMTL). All About Jazz. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
- Collar, Matt. "Hunter" (HMTL). AllMusic. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
- "Celebration of Soul - Josh Maxey" (HMTL). AllMusic. Retrieved February 10, 2017.