Chase Baird

David "Chase" Baird (born March 18, 1988) is an American saxophonist and composer.[1]

Chase Baird
Background information
Born (1988-03-18) March 18, 1988
Seattle, Washington, United States
GenresJazz, rock, electronic
Occupation(s)Musician, composer
InstrumentsSaxophone, EWI, clarinet, flute, guitar
LabelsSoundsabound Records
Websitechasebaird.com

Biography

Early life

Baird was born in Seattle, Washington.[2] He was introduced 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 relocated 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 psychology. 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 the program after two years and eventually relocated to New York City, where he enrolled at The Juilliard School (studying with Ron Blake, Steve Wilson, Joe Temperley, Frank Kimbrough, Rodney Jones, Kendall Briggs and others) and completed an undergraduate degree in 2014.[7][1][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, featuring 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] He also 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.[14][9]

Baird released A Life Between, his second album as a leader in August 2019. The recording features Brad Mehldau, Antonio Sánchez, Nir Felder and Dan Chmielinski.[9][15] He collaborated with drummer Steve Lyman to compose, record and produce the electro-acoustic composition Pulsar, later released in July 2020.[16]

He has also worked as a sideman with jazz and fusion artists including Mike Stern, Antonio Farao, Aaron Parks, Thana Alexa, Dennis Chambers, Gary Grainger, Gene Perla, Dan Tepfer, Jeremy Green, Victor Wooten, Keith Carlock, Circuit Kisser and the Mingus Big Band, among others.[11][17][18][19][1] His work as a featured soloist with the Kyle Athayde Dance Party has garnered over one million views on YouTube.[20] In the pop and rock genres, he performed with Chaka Khan, Matthew Morrison, Jakob Dylan, Diana Degarmo, Chloe Agnew and Morgan James.[4][21][22]

Selected discography

As leader

As co-leader

As sideman
  • Michael & Me – Jeremy Green feat. Victor Wooten, Keith Carlock and Chase Baird (Independent, 2020)
  • 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)[24]
  • Language of Sound and Spirit – Joshua Maxey (Independent, 2012)[25]
  • Hunter – Morgan James (Epic, 2014)[26]
  • Celebration of Soul – Joshua Maxey (Independent, 2015)[27]

References
  1. Kolhasse, Bill. "On Principle: Saxophonist Chase Baird" (HMTL). Pasatiempo. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  2. Self, Alisha. "Meet saxophone prodigy Chase Baird". Park Record. Archived from the original (HMTL) on August 10, 2014. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  3. 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.
  4. Panken, Ted. "Colleagues, Collaborators Remember Michael Brecker in NYC Concert" (HMTL). Down Beat. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  5. Wiegand, David. "Julian Pollack in Mendocino for Family Biz" (HMTL). San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
  6. "MJF Announces Next Generation Jazz Orchestra" (HMTL). Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  7. Taylor, Tim. "Chase Baird – Crosscurrent – Junebeat Records" (HMTL). Audiophile Audition. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
  8. "Juilliard Jazz Ensembles Perform Student Original Compositions". Juilliard Journal. Archived from the original (HMTL) on December 27, 2016. Retrieved December 26, 2016.
  9. Hélary, Sébastien. "Stream Saxophonist Chase Baird's Lead Single "Ripcord" Off 'A Life Between' (Premiere)" (HMTL). Nextbop. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
  10. "Emancipated: Full Cast & Crew" (HMTL). IMDb. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
  11. Wiegand, David. "CD Review: Chase Baird, Crosscurrent" (HMTL). San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  12. Lindsay, Bruce. "Chase Baird: Crosscurrent". All About Jazz. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  13. Shteamer, Hank. "Song You Need to Know: Antonio Sanchez, 'Bad Hombres y Mujeres'" (HMTL). Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  14. "Venture, LIVE at the Falcon" (HMTL). Poughkeepsie Journal. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  15. Chinen, Nate. "Take Five, All-Star Edition: Bold New Music by Crosscurrents Trio, Kris Davis, Tim Ries & More" (HMTL). WGBO. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
  16. Steve Lyman (July 9, 2019). Steve Lyman Pulsar Performance. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  17. "Chase Baird" (HMTL). Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  18. 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.
  19. "Antonio Faraò alla Nave de Vero" (HMTL). Il Gazzettino. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  20. "Mario Kart 64 - Main Theme" (HMTL). Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  21. 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.
  22. "Hunter Morgan James" (HMTL). All Music. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  23. "Chase Baird" (HMTL). Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  24. "Antonio Sánchez and Migration, Lines in the Sand, CAM Jazz **** recommended" (HMTL). Marlbank. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
  25. "Josh Maxey: The Language Of Sound And Spirit" (HMTL). All About Jazz. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
  26. Collar, Matt. "Hunter" (HMTL). AllMusic. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  27. "Celebration of Soul - Josh Maxey" (HMTL). AllMusic. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
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