Happy birthday, Shorty Baker!

"I believe in melody. You must have a lead, a guide."
- Shorty Baker, as quoted in The World of Duke Ellington

Today, we pay tribute to another of St. Louis' trumpet greats. Harold J. "Shorty" Baker was born in St. Louis on May 26, 1912, and went on to play with Don Redman, Teddy Wilson; Andy Kirk, Mary Lou Williams (whom he also married) and many others. But he's best known as one of the Duke's men. Baker first performed with Ellington in 1939, became one of the mainstays of the band's trumpet section in the Forties, and returned for yet another tour of duty in the late Fifties and into the Sixties.

There's not much in the way of biographical material about Baker on the 'Net, and the album cover shown above is the only photo I could find. So, I'll take the liberty of quoting in full from the print edition of Who's Who in Jazz by John Chilton (Time-Life Books, 1978 edition), which offers the most detailed biography within reach:

Harold J. “Shorty” Baker

Born: St. Louis Missouri, May 26, 1914
Died: New York, November 8, 1966

His brother, Winfield, was a trombonist. Originally a drummer, then switched to trumpet and playing in his brother's band. Lessons from P. G. Lankford in St. Louis. With Fate Marable (c.1930), then with Erskine Tate in Chicago before returning to St. Louis to join Eddie Johnson's Crackerjacks (1932-3), then in band led by his brother. With Don Redman from late 1936 until 1938 (briefly with Duke Ellington in 1938). Joined Teddy Wilson Big Band in April 1939, left early the following year to join Andy Kirk. With Kirk until spring 1942, then co-led sextet with Mary Lou Williams (to whom he was then married). With Duke Ellington from c. September 1942 until Army call-up in spring 1944. Guested with Duke Ellington in 1945, then regularly with Duke from summer 1946 until early 1952. Played with Teddy Wilson Quartet, Ben Webster small band, and free-lanced in New York. Joined Johnny Hodges Band in late 1954. From 1957 until 1963 worked on and off with Duke Ellington, during this period also with Dick Vance, Claude Hopkins, Bud Freeman, George Wein, etc., also led own quartet. Played at the Metropole, New York, in 1964 and had his last dates at The Embers, also in New York, then regular playing was curtailed by illness. He underwent a serious operation late 1965, was temporarily released from the hospital, but was unable to continue trumpet playing. He died of throat cancer in the New York Veterans' Hospital.

I did find a couple of other Baker-related items of interest, including this discography (which, given Ellington's output, may be incomplete, but gives some idea of the scope of of Baker's career), and this transcription (.pdf) of a Baker solo on the standard "All of Me". During his time with Duke, Baker was known especially for his ballad playing, and several references cite him as an early influence on and personal favorite of Miles Davis.

It appears as if the album pictured above is the only recording of Shorty Baker as a leader (or co-leader, in this case) that's still in print. (Interestingly, this album also features another St. Louis native and former Ellingtonian, bassist Wendell Marshall.) However, Ellington's recordings from the Forties are readily available, and they're a good starting place to hear some of what Baker could do.