One of the leading guitarists of his generation, Duck Baker is devoted to a wide range of music including virtually every style of jazz, from ragtime solos to small group swing and modern jazz to free improvisation. Tonight, he features pieces written by jazz composers from Scott Joplin to Ornette Coleman as he traces the development of the music during the last century. Duck's rare ability to improvise a melody while maintaining an independent bass line will be on display, as well as his own compositional skills, in this solo concert. The program will also feature pieces by New Orleans great Jelly Roll Morton, swing-era figures like Duke Ellington, Sy Oliver, and Edgar Sampson, and such modernists as Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins, and John Coltrane.

Now residing in London, Duck grew up in Richmond, Virginia, passing his teenage years in rock and blues bands before becoming interested in acoustic blues and jazz. Over the years, Duck has collaborated with numerous acclaimed musicians, from fingerpicking icons like Leo Kottke and jazz master Jamie Findlay to free music luminary Eugene Chadbourne. A veteran performer in club as well as concert settings, Duck is known for his engaging presentation style, which combines an ability to entertain non-jazz audiences with a deep understanding of the music's history.

His most recent solo CD, Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans, finds him exploring the joyous sounds of ragtime, classic jazz, and swing. Duck's state-of-the-art acoustic guitar work will appeal to jazz fans, guitar fans, and anyone else who enjoys an evening of superlative music.