Session Drummer | Studio Drummer | Touring and Worship Drummer for Hire | Dale Baker

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My new favorite song

Thanks Able!

Posted by dalebakerdrummer on October 28, 2007 in Music | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Set up online store
Blog post about my DIY electronic kit
Work on demo songs in Ableton Live Demo and also in Garage Band
Chop up my drum parts from previous sessions and make them into Apple Loops
Take my car to Costco and get the tires all checked out...the left front one has a small leak
Make myself some business cards
Respond to emails about drum lessons
Pay Bills
Start getting my receipts together for Tax Season...
Figure out how to pay off our credit cards...(no more iTunes purchases, no more eating out, no more $4.00 Lattes, avoid Ikea)
Tweak and edit my eSession profile and sign up to be one of the Tuesday special deals...
Go see the new George Clooney movie
Track down a copy of Andrei Rublev and attempt to sit through it again...subtitles and slow moving images...
Keep running
Morning prayer and journal-ling
Purchase a church calendar and a book of Andrei Rublev paintings for Carole
Set up date to visit Mark in California...
Work on Grant Proposals to fund my hopes and dreams
Check into Orton Gillingham training, and Orff training next summer...
Purchase that Wilcoxen book...
Hang out with Randy
Go on a bike ride with Perry...
Figure out a way to visit: Chicago and New York

Posted by dalebakerdrummer on October 23, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Music and Food and stuff...

Last weekend, our friend Kelly took Carole and me out to this fairly new restaurant in Durham called Rue Cler. Man, if you haven't gone to this place...you need to. It's some of the best food I've ever had. The menu is all in French, so that was a little difficult to navigate, but the wait staff was very polite and didn't make me feel like an imbecile for not knowing how the Prix Fix menu worked or what the word Frites meant. Carole had some really great steak and fries and I had these crab cakes that were out of this world. Rue Cler is located downtown, right around the corner from where Emmaus Way meets on Sunday afternoons, and not to far from the Downtown Marriott and Carolina Theater...

Some music I've been listening to...

Jose Gonzalez
Micky Hart and Zukar Hussein Global Drum Project
Floratone (website features streaming music from the album and beautiful photos by Michael Wilson)
Hillsong United (I'm addicted to their You Tube videos...their production values are stellar)
the new Radiohead record (pay what you want...)

Stuff I'd like to own:

A DW Double Bass Pedal
Charly Wilcoxen's book of 150 Snare Drum Solos
Abelton Live
Stylus
Maybe some sort of recording interface so I can start experimenting with tracking drums at home...
A new hi-hat stand
One of those cool hydraulic drum thrones...I played on one about a week ago, and it felt great to sit on...

Posted by dalebakerdrummer on October 19, 2007 in Food and Drink | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Work

This past week has been full of some fun stuff...I played a session for my friend Kelly and recorded with Mike again up in Greensboro. We tracked 5 songs, and I was able to play a bunch of fun stuff. I've already heard some roughs from the session and I'm really proud of the work I did and can't wait to hear the final project. More than likely it'll end up being a 5 song ep available on iTunes, as some of the songs were recorded specifically to pitch to HBO, and some independent media companies...

I played on a track for a new friend Bill this week at my house. My friend Mark came over with his mobile rig and we tracked the drums in my small little studio room. I used my Blue Premier Kit and we mic'ed it with some Earthworks condensers and a D112. 3 mics baby! It was fun to record this way, and even though my room doesn't sport the best acoustics, I think we still ended up with some great sounds. It seemed like Bill was fairly pleased with the results, so hopefully we'll all get to do some more work together in the future.

I played at Providence Baptist Church in Raleigh on Sunday and had a wonderful time. It felt like I was in a studio, because they have the drums enclosed in a booth, and everyone monitors via in ears or with headphones. I used my trusty Studio Kans and really enjoyed the freedom of mixing my own monitor that the Aviom system they use allows. Mike Passaro led worship and Shelly Moore was one of the singers...so it was fun getting to play with them again. Mike programmed some awesome loops and I had a blast listening to the loops and playing with them during worship. I hope I get to play there again.

Posted by dalebakerdrummer on October 17, 2007 in Music | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Prayer for Morning

One of the benefits of living with a theologian/ artist is that random books on art and theology come through our house at any given time. I was sitting on the couch tonight and my son shows me a picture in a book and says, "Look Dad, it's a picture like the one Mommy made..." Indeed it was. It was photo of an Icon corner in the home of a priest and it included an Icon similar to the one Carole had painted at a workshop she attended sometime ago. So as I started looking through the book, there was a section on prayer and it really grabbed my attention. At the end of one of the chapters was this prayer and I thought it was beautiful:

Lord, grant that I may meet the coming day with spiritual tranquility. Grant that in all things I may rely upon your holy will. In each hour of the day, reveal your will to me. Whatever news may reach me this day, teach me to accept it with a calm soul, knowing that all is subject to your holy will. Direct my thoughts and feelings in all my words and actions. In all unexpected occurrences, do not let me forget that all is sent down by you. Grant that I may deal firmly and wisely with every member of my family and all who are in my care, neither embarrassing nor saddening anyone. Give me the strength to bear the fatigue of the coming day with all that it shall bring. Direct my will and teach me to pray, to believe, to hope, to be patient, to forgive, and to love. Amen.

reprinted from the book, "Praying with Icons, by Jim Forest, from the chapter Praying in Body and Soul, page 49: "One prayer that you might use at the beginning of each day comes from the Monastery of Optino, an important center of spiritual life in Russia in the nineteenth century:" (btw, if you have access to the Duke Divinity Library, you can find it there as soon as my wife checks it back in...DIV.SCH. 246.53 F718 P921 1997 C.2

Posted by dalebakerdrummer on October 15, 2007 in Religion | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

My Drumming On CD

Sixpence None the Richer: This Beautiful Mess
The second CD Sixpence recorded was my first with the band. We tracked the rhythm tracks in 4 days at Omni Sound studios in Nashville. Armand John Petri produced and many fans say that this is their favorite Sixpence album.
Sixpence None The Richer: Sixpence None The Richer
The Grammy nominated, RIAA Certified Platinum selling album that featured the breakout hit, "Kiss Me." Produced by Steve Taylor and wonderfully engineered and mixed by Russ Long, with additional mixing by Bob Clearmountain. The follow-up hit, "There She Goes" was also later added to this album.
Sixpence None the Richer: The Best of Sixpence None the Richer
Includes the hits "Kiss Me," "There She Goes," and "Breathe Your Name" and many other of the songs I played on and helped promote during my 7+ years with the band.
Sixpence None the Richer: Tickets for a Prayer Wheel
Out-takes and B-Sides from Sixpence's "This Beautiful Mess" CD. There were some extended jams, a live track, some moody percussion and even a re-mix done by friend and former roommate, Sal Salvador. Not only does this CD feature my drumming, and vocals(!), but I make my producing debut on this album with an angst-filled vibey take on an old Patsy Cline song.
Sixpence None the Richer: Mega 3 Collection
Includes Sixpence's first 3 CD's. Of these 3 CD's my drumming only appears on the 2nd and 3rd disc. The first CD featured the drumming of Chris Dodds, one of my favorite people and drummers.
Sixpence None the Richer: There She Goes
CD single of the 11th hour addition to Sixpence's self-titled album which helped solidify Sixpence as a legitmate "Breakthrough Artist" according to R&R magazine. The song went on to become a Top 10 Single with an appealing video (featuring "Saving Private Ryan" star, Adam Goldberg), by director and good friend of the band, Brandon Dickerson.
Sixpence None the Richer: Breathe Your Name / Northern Lights
CD single of the Top 20 hit, Breathe Your Name w/ non-album track Northern Lights, from Sixpence's Divine Discontent record. Both songs feature my drumming.
Sixpence None the Richer: Collage: A Portrait of Their Best
A compilation of the best tracks from the band's REX years. And yes, that's me in the corner with the beard and glasses.
Sixpence None the Richer: Kiss Me
Imported Single of the most played song from the year 2000. This song features my drumming and went to the top of the charts in over 10 countries (US, UK, Canada, Israel, Japan, etc...). I also appeared in all the videos and TV appearances that helped promote this song. Interesting side note: this song was chosen by Britain's Royal Family to be played for over 200 Million viewers during Prince Edward's 1999 wedding.
Sixpence None the Richer: I Can't Catch You
Import Single of a song from the band's self-titled album. This was one of the songs Bob Clearmountain mixed and it was honor to have him work his magic on my drum tracks!
...The Basics: Grow
I was really happy how this record turned out. An honest, well produced CD by a couple of North Carolina's (and Northern California's) best songwriters. I also took the photos that appear in the CD booklet.
[Various Artists]: City on a Hill: Collection
I played on the first City on a Hill CD as well as a track or two on the second CD.
[Various Artists]: Return Of The Grievous Angel: Tribute To Gram Parsons
I played drums with the Rolling Creek Dippers, aka: Buddy and Julie Miller, Victoria Williams, Mark Olsen, Jim Lauderdale.
[Various Artists]: Roaring Lambs
I played drums with Sixpence None the Richer, Emmylou Harris, Steve Taylor and percussion with Burlap to Cashmere on this CD.
[Various Artists]: Exodus
I played with Sixpence None the Richer, Michael W. Smith, and Kenny Meeks on this CD.
Kim Taylor: So Black, So Bright
I played drums on this CD that was produced by Jack Henderson. This is one of my favorite projects to have played on. Some of the tracks feature Linford and Karin from Over the Rhine as well.
Frankly Scarlet: Stories I've Heard
I played and recorded with this band back when I lived in Dallas. We even shot a video...with the Dallas skyline as our backdrop.
[Various Artists]: Making God Smile: An Artists' Tribute to the Songs of Beach Boy Brian Wilson
I played drums and percussion (timpani, chimes, beat box) on Jason Harrod's version of "In My Room" for this Brian Wilson tribute album.
Rebecca St. James: Transform
I played on a track produced by Matt Bronlewee, that featured the London Symphony Orchestra and some very "Bjork" sounding vocals by Rebecca. I think we did about 40 tracks of various percussion overdubs for this track too.
[Various Artists]: Never Say Dinosaur
My first time to work with producer Brent Bourgeois and one of my first times in the studio with Sixpence. I borrowed a whole bunch of percussion from Steve Hindalong and had a great time overdubbing frame drums, rattan shakers and the like. The track ended up sounding very Daniel Lanois-ish with some Peter Gabriel-esq type layers thrown in for good measure.
Phantasmic: Fluffy Vs. Phantasmic
"Rainy Day Assembly" appears on this record. This out-take from Sixpence's "This Beautiful Mess" session was used by Tess Wiley (aka, Phantasmic) and features shaker performed by percussion wiz Lalo Davila.
Honey: Lost on You
I played on two tracks from this record produced by Dan and Steve from Jars of Clay.
[various artists]: Here On Earth (2000 Film)
This Soundtrack album features two songs I did with Sixpence, one a cover of a Sam Phillips/ T-Bone Burnett song: "I Need Love" and the other, the opening track ("We Have Forgotten") from Sixpence's self-titled record.
[various artists]: Snow Day: Music From The Motion Picture
Sixpence's version of The La's tune, "There She Goes" is on this soundtrack album. And yes, I'm playing drums on that song...
[various artists]: Bounce: Music from and Inspired by the Miramax Motion Picture (2000 film)
Another song ("Love") I did with Sixpence from their self-titled album, appears on this soundtrack. Mark Nash and I played a drum duet of sorts to get the primal heavy-handed approach needed for this wonderful song.
[various artists]: Dick
One of my favorite tracks. Everytime I hear this song ("Dancing Queen"), I can't help but think of Alan Partridge.
Sixpence None the Richer: Divine Discontent
Even though I quit playing with the band in 2001, the bulk of this record was recorded in 2000, and so my playing is featured on more than half the tracks on this record. Produced by Paul Fox, beautifully engineered by Mark Chevalier and mixed by Tom Lord-Alge.
Sixpence None the Richer: The Early Years
New Sixpence compilation from the REX years. Includes songs and b-sides from the early work I recorded with Sixpence - pre "Kiss Me" era.
Steve Hindalong, et.al: City on a Hill: Reflections on Our Spiritual Journey (Ccm Book)
Okay, this is a book. But I wrote the first essay that appears in the book and took all the photos that appear as well. You can actually read my essay by clicking this link and "looking inside the book." Fun, huh?
Various Artists: Pointfolio 1.0
A radio station compilation featuring in-studio and concert live cuts. Includes, Sixpence doing "Kiss Me"(with me on drums), and Fleming and John's "Ugly Girl", Dido, BareNaked Ladies, etc.
Plumb
Loops, fragments of songs and lots of percussion is what I remember from this session. Producer Dan Haseltine and Matt Bronlewee made this a fun and creative time in the studio. It was great to be a part of the debut album of such a phenomenal artist (am I gushing to much here?).
[various Artists] : Felicity: Senior Year (tv soundtrack)
Features "Melody of You" a beautiful song by Sixpence None the Richer that I played drums on and was featured on the series final episode (I think).

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