Guitar Player Magazine
Now Hear This: Dave Baker (June 2015)
By Michael Molenda
Nashville session ace Dave Baker has etched out a fine career playing for artists such as Luke Bryan and Rodney Atkins, as well as in his current gig backing American Idol alumnus Kellie Pickler. He put his own material to the test with his recent, self-released instrumental CD, 71 South, where he traverses several musical boundaries with his eclectic, yet always melodic guitar stylings.
What’s your favorite gear at the moment?
My go-to electrics are a RS Guitarworks Slab ’59, a PRS DGT, a ’78 Gibson ES-335, and a Les Paul Standard. For acoustic situations, I use my McPherson Camrielle. Although I have a modest collection of vintage instruments, I mostly use them for intown sessions and gigs, as I’ve retired the older guitars and amps from the road. My “town” amp is a Dr. Z Carmen Ghia, and my touring rig is a Dr. Z Z Wreck head and a cab loaded with Eminence Eric Johnson EJ-1240 speakers. My effects are minimal. Currently, I use a Wampler Pinnacle, a Fulltone Full-Drive2, a Wampler Ego Compressor, a Line 6 M9, and a JHS-modded Ernie Ball VP Jr. volume pedal. My strings are D’Addario EXL110, .010-.046, and I use a Clayton Acetal 1.26mm pick for guitar.
How do you craft your session tones?
Most of what I do in Nashville is country, rock, and Americana, so the tones have to be organic and honest. Often times, a guitar plugged straight into one of my Dr. Zs is all I need for 90-percent of any song—live or studio.
What are your main responsibilities when you perform with Kellie Pickler?
It’s all about recreating the recording of the song in a live fashion. Kellie’s musical director expects parts to be played verbatim off the album, while keeping the energy up, and not overshadowing the vocals.
As you’ve played on some hit sessions, what, in your view, is in the DNA of a great song?
Most great songs are simple in harmonic principal—three or four chords.—and a catchy melody. The guitar is a supportive instrument to the vocal melody. In my opinion, the best guitar parts add to the harmonic structure by creating a musical hook, as well, whether it’s a rhythmic phrase such as “Faith” by George Michael, or a riff that helps identify the song, à la “Day Tripper.”
What were some of the elements that informed your solo album, 71 South?
It’s a product of the many years I’ve invested into the love of music. I can’t define myself as a country player, a metal player, a rock player, or even Latin or jazz, because I love it all. So I paid tribute to my love for many genres, and although the album may not have a “musical centerpiece” as a result, it does have a personalized identity with my approach to tones and phrasing. And even though they are instrumentals, all the compositions have the spirit of a pop song in terms of structure, hooks, and motifs.
Which artists do you absorb for musical inspiration?
I’m influenced by everything I hear—whether I like it or not. The music I gravitate towards is all over the map, but, as a guitar player, I’m a blues-based classic rock junkie. I like everything from Joe Walsh to B.T.O. to the Stones to Cream. But I also like NIN, Ministry, and Slayer. When I’m playing on a session, I try to conjure Keith Richards, Nile Rodgers, Jimmy Page, and Willie Nelson. That’s a great combination of vibe, rhythm, riffs, tone, and simplicity.
Guitar Digest
71 South Review & Dave Baker Interview
(Winter 2015 - Volume 29, Number 4)
I first became aware of Dave Baker when he was demonstrating a guitar amp. He whipped off some country chicken pickin' and I thought, hey a guy from Cleveland who can really play country. Next he ran through some smokin' blues licks on the amp. Country and blues I thought, not bad.
Next he played some licks that had a Yngwie feel to them. I think there may have been some Travis style stuff next, but I was distracted thinking about how I was going to stack up my guitars to get the best fire going as I burnt them.
Dave has been a sideman to Kellie Pickler for a while, but now he has moved to the front with his album 71 South. 71 South is an all instrumental album that showcases all of the styles I heard that first time and adds some to the mix.
The album starts out with "Guitar Center Saturday." Don't think Guitar Center when the Saturday wankers are there; think when there is a clinic. A clinic by someone like the above mentioned Yngwie. You get speed picking, sustain and neo-classical licks that might put you in mind of Alex Skolnik. That is followed up by an acoustic piece in an eastern European gypsy style that has a carnival feel to it called "The Brothel." One of my favorites. Next is "Sandy Spit" which is a sunny day at the beach in some Caribbean local. "Spaghetti Western" is self explanatory and showcases Dave as the guitar slinger he is. You'll be looking to get up on your horse and start riding. Be sure and remember to duck when the shooting begins.
"Closer to Home" is a slow atmospheric piece that mixes acoustic guitar with long sustain sweet distorted electric licks. "Baker's Boogie" is a fun swing/boogie woogie piece. If you like Brian Setzer or Reverend Horton Heat you will like this one. Lots of hybrid picking and slapback.
"Nodding" is a tremolo based piece that has a Christmas feel to it. Another of my favorites. "Geneva" is blues based licks, but played over
changes that are more jazz based; not your normal pentatonic musings. "71 South," the a l b u m ' s n a m e s a k e , commemorates the highway
that started Baker on his move from Cleveland to Nashville. It must have been a jazzy ride down there as this one has an old school jazz style. The last song, "Esteban," is acoustic Latin all the way, played way better than the fellow I am guessing it is named after.
Baker is joined on the album by some of Nashville's finest: drummer Rich Redmond (Jason Aldean), bassist Vail Johnson (Keb' Mo' & Kenny G), and multi instrumentalist and producer John Painter (Ben Folds & Sevendust). On 71 South Dave Baker showcases a bunch of different styles of guitar work that should give everyone something to grab onto. He has an amazing grasp of a variety of styles. His tones are superb. His licks are tasteful with the pieces showcasing his talent and virtuosity. Dave is in Kellie Pickler"s band, but if he ever needs a quick resume to look for other work, flipping someone this would surely show what he is capable of. If you are a guitar player, listening to this will either inspire you to practice more and try harder or get you to Craigslist to list your equipment for sale.
MW