Guest Artist: Jeff Baker

Called “…one of the best male vocalists in the jazz world today,” by WCLK in Atlanta, Jeff Baker has quickly become one of the most significant talents in the next generation of jazz vocalists. His diverse musical recordings, exciting live performances, and infectious energy and personality have gained him accolades from critics and listeners alike. Baker has headlined numerous festivals and clubs, and has shared the billing and played with some of jazz music’s top artists including: Ray Brown, Gene Harris, Brian Blade, John Patitucci, and many more!

Jeff has performed throughout the U.S., and has enjoyed performance engagements in central Europe and South Africa. His four critically acclaimed CD releases on the Origin/OA2 Records imprint have charted on the ‘Jazzweek’ International Radio Top 50, have been played on over 200 stations internationally, were Top 5 on NPR’s nationally syndicated “Jazz Works” radio program, and were #1 on stations in Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Portland, Buffalo, St. Louis, Cape Town, SA and New Zealand.

Jeff is an ACDA (American Choral Directors Association) Certified Clinician/Adjudicator, a past member of the International Association of Jazz Education (IAJE), and a current member of the Jazz Education Network (JEN), the National Association for Music Education (NAFME), and the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS or the GRAMMY Foundation). Jeff Baker resides in Portland, OR is currently on the jazz faculty at Portland State University, and is the co-founder and director of the Jazz Forward Competition.