CD: Perfect Gateway

With his first solo album "Perfect Getaway", London-born Steve Baker shows himself from a hitherto little-known side and reinvents himself as a singer and composer. He is known for his groundbreaking work as a leading figure in the European harmonica scene. His work as an accompanist and partner of artists such as Franz-Josef Degenhardt, Chris Jones or Abi Wallenstein is also congenial and stylistically versatile. Steve Baker presents himself with the album as a convincing songwriter, bandleader, arranger and producer

As his musical background suggests, "Perfect Getaway" has not become a pure blues album, but reflects the diverse musical influences he has absorbed and processed in the course of his life

The 13 compositions are from Steve Baker's pen and completely different times of his 40-year music career. Some titles he has recorded before in other line-ups, but mostly not sung himself. A large part of the pieces are newly composed and many were written especially for this production. Together with bassist Gaz, Steve pre-produced the tracks and the album was recorded at the Mühle der Freundschaft in Bad Iburg by Marcus Praed. For this, Baker brought some of the leading figures of the Osnabrück music scene to his side. With Kai Strauss on guitar, Alex Lex on drums, Christian Rannenberg on piano and Gaz (the Alibischwaben) on bass, all songs were recorded live in the wonderful ambience of Praed's recording studio

Moritz Fuhrhop played the Hammond organ on some tracks. Backing vocals were sung by Gaz as well as Steve's daughter Gina, who celebrates her recording debut here, and on four tracks there are beautiful choir vocals by Gaz's group "Opportunity"

The songs are stylistically very different and span a wide range from singer / songwriter to country, gospel, blues, rock'n'roll and harder rock. What unites them in any case is Baker's clearly audible pop sensibility, which gives his compositions a clear character of their own. His songs have catchy choruses and, like his harp playing, are primarily melodic, with finely differentiated grooves, enchanting guitar with the unmistakable biting tone of Kai Strauss and Christian Rannenberg's relaxed grooving piano playing

The first thing you notice about Steve Baker's songs is that they are deeply personal and not very cliché, they seem very English. Exemplary of this is the opening number "Anyway You Do," which begins with melancholy country sounds and runs through many a surprising twist before ending as an uptempo afrobeat with a chorus. "Blind Man Blues" is reminiscent of Little Feat or Dr. John and is followed by the acoustic grooving funk of "Brand New Day," with gospel choir and a wonderfully light-footed harp solo at the end. The tongue-in-cheek "Notional Security Blues" mocks the ubiquitous security mania, while the autobiographical "Born In London" somehow sounds like old Chuck Berry. This is followed by the lurid punk pop of "Apeman" - with guitar riffs reminiscent of both the Kinks and the Searchers. The exciting minor blues "Doublecrossed & Blue," which is one of Steve's most popular instrumental tracks, is followed by a surprising remake of the old Have Mercy number "Hustle On Down" from 1977, which rocks out in a relaxed manner in the style of Elvis Presley's Memphis album or J. J.Cale. "Glad I Got You" comes after that like a mix of Motown, Stones and British pub rock, with backing vocals by Gina and Gaz. "Nobody's Fool" mixes country with New Orleans piano, while "Soul Train" blends ripping rockabilly with a chorus, a harp solo and virtuoso guitar playing. The title track, "Perfect Getaway," is a psychodrama that begins with gritty blues rock guitar riffs and vocals that then lead into classic Britrock choruses before everything builds into a finale marked by returning hope as a pop anthem. The final track, the poignant country gospel "One Word", brings all the elements back together for the conclusion, with Steve's signature lyrical harp playing, great choral arrangement and the final soulful guitar solo from Kai

"Perfect Getaway" emphatically demonstrates that Steve Baker has managed to successfully reposition himself as a rocking singer / songwriter after a long career as a sideman and highly respected instrumentalist.