(Review by Steve.)
This movie begins as
it ends with the 75 year old Baker breaking the directors nose on camera by
attacking him with a cane.
This is not so much a
‘Rockumentary’ as a ‘Jazzumentary’
for Ginger Baker is first and foremost a Jazz drummer although he found fame and fortune with cult rock outfits Cream and Blind Faith. To
this day his drumming heroes are Phil Seamen, Max Roach, Art Blakey and Elvin
Jones. As Eric Clapton says on camera he was in a different league to the two
rock drumming giants of the late 60’s and early 70s John Bonham and
Keith Moon .
Clapton explains that
Baker is not just a drummer but a consummate musician able to compose, arrange
and lead. Amazingly, unlike the aforementioned two rock drum legends he is still alive despite leading a
similar life of debauchery and serial drug abuse.
Baker, age 14, first
got into Jazz when acting as a decoy for a gang nicking records he heard Max
Roach on the ‘Quintet of the Year’ album (the other four members were Dizzy,
Bird, Bud Powell and Mingus) he stole the LP despite not having a record player
and subsequently got ‘strapped’ by his mum when she found out.
In the late 70’s
Baker was the first musician to really get into ‘World Music’ and he went to live in Nigeria Nigeria
This biopic, like its
protagonist, pulls no punches. It makes great use of archive photographs and
animated charcoal drawings to illustrate scenes from Mr Baker’s colourful past.
Baker comes across as
a thoroughly unpleasant character despite being one of the giants of modern
Jazz/Rock drumming. To be a
member of his family either musically or domestically seems to have been a
fraught and literally threatening experience. However, as far as this movie is
concerned he is a riveting, engaging, humorous
yet frightening subject – recommended viewing!
‘Beware of Mr Baker’ - Tyneside Cinema 13:55 today (May 30).
‘Beware of Mr Baker’ - Tyneside Cinema 13:55 today (May 30).
Thanks for the very useful synopsis. I'm really looking forward to seeing the movie, although sadly I can't get to the screening at the (wonderful) Tyneside Cinema. I'll have to wait for the DVD release.
ReplyDeleteGinger's still very active (I suspect the unfortunate reality is that he needs the money). Ginger Baker's Jazz Confusion features Ginger, Pee Wee Ellis on sax, Alec Dankworth on bass (son of Johnny Dankworth & Cleo Laine) and African "drum driver" Abass Dodoo on percussion. Jazz laced with African rhythm. They played The Cluny last year - I really recommend making the effort to see them (before it's too late!). Check out the upcoming tour dates here if interested http://www.ents24.com/uk/tour-dates/ginger-bakers-jazz-confusion.
Thanks again for the film review. Whilst he's undoubtedly a "difficult" human being, his continued musical legacy's right up there with the best of them - and as you point out, covering more genres than most.
Cheers, Les.