Review music: Ginger Baker | Drums | Drummer | Cream album Fresh Cream

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The Review - MUSIC - grooves with RóISíN GADELRAB
Published: 29 October 2009

Ginger Baker

Drum roll for Cream legend

PREVIEW: GINGER BAKER

MUSIC gigs do not come bigger than this.
The pulse of any significant rhythmical creation relies on the heaviest, hardest and hottest drummers.
Ginger Baker is acknowledged to be at the pinnacle of a significant tree of greats and indeed many of the world’s finest musicians are quoted as putting him at the very top.
He is best known for his days in the blues rock super group Cream who carved out their own notable niche in the late 1960s. I certainly know of no better rock drum solo than that in the track “Toad” from their debut album, Fresh Cream.
Baker’s drumming reflects his elegant eccentricity and he is a showman of considerable flamboyance.
He pioneered the use of two bass drums instead of the conventional single bass kick drum, which further increased the volume of his talent.
Ginger eschews the label as a rock drummer and prefers to be known as a jazz musician, originally taking inspiration from the iconic Max Roach.
His later work beyond the band Blind Faith includes recordings with the one and only king of afro-funk, Fela Ransome-Kuti and the two Bills; Laswell and Frisell. He was also a member of Hawkwind and formed bands such as his Ginger Baker’s Air Force and Baker Gurvitz Army.
In 2005, Baker re-united with Clapton and Bruce for a re-union at the Royal Albert Hall which was an instant sell-out. Bruce and Baker managed to overcome their differences for this legendary set of nights.
However Bruce was quoted this year in Rolling Stone saying that Baker is “still a bit close” to him in the UK by living in South Africa.
Baker also confirmed Cream would never again get together.
One will rarely get the opportunity to see this musical colossus and one can but guess who will be appearing as his special guests.
Even at the premium ticket price of £60, this gig is most definitely worth a punt and may even be reflected on as a steal.

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