Jeffrey Reid Baker

Jeffrey Reid Baker gained national attention in the late 1980s for several albums he did for Newport Classics. He pioneered the use of keyboards and computers, generally confined to the “pop music” field, to produce four cross-over classical albums - Lisztronique*, Rhapsody In Electric Blue*, Carmina Burana Synthesized, and Everyone's Favorite Synthesizer Pieces*. (* are now available on JRB Records as JRB CD-9002, 9003, 9004). They received positive reviews at the time from major publications such as the Chicago Tribune, Stereo Review, Digital Audio, and USA Today among others. They were also featured in both the BMG and Columbia House record clubs in the late 80’s and early 90’s.

During the 1990s, Baker went to work for an Atlanta-based corporation and spent several years involved with all genres of musical production including soundtracks, new-age, big band, ragtime and classical. One of the projects was to be a recording called “Classical impressions of Christmas”. However, in the spring of 1996, Baker started his own musical production company - JRB Records - and that project became “A Composer’s Christmas” - JRB’s first release and one of its biggest selling records - over 100,000 sold. in 1999, Baker released a Rachmaninoff CD containing the Third Piano Concerto in it’s 2-Piano form (only recording), and his arrangement of the Cello Sonata for two-pianos (world premiere). It also received out-standing reviews.

In the year 2000, Baker was asked by the Musicland/Sam Goody chain if he would produce a “Scott Joplin Greatest Hits” album. He did, and, for a while, it was their biggest selling ragtime album. Since then, he has released “Grand Russian Fantasy” and “Fingerbreakers” - both available on iTunes - as are all his other productions. He is now working on an collection of all of his own original pieces - some of which been previously released.

Baker has taught piano/composition for over 40 years to students ranging in age from 5 to 75. One of his favorite pastimes over the last 10 years especially has been to create music for all levels, particularly composing for the earlier levels. When he started taking lessons himself, he always composed something similar to the pieces he liked the most. He has continued that tradition in his own new music for young pianists. Another favorite venue of his is to twist holiday music into more diverse and unexpected settings. Many of these are for students.

Among Bakers greatest admitted influences are Maurice Ravel, L. V. Beethoven, Andre Previn, Claude Debussy, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Franz Liszt, Frederic Chopin, Don Shirley, Charles V. Alkan, Edvard Grieg, George Shearing, Peter Tchaikovsky, Scott Joplin, George Gershwin, Michel Legrand and Billy Joel.