Noah Baerman
Middletown, Connecticut, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2001 | INDIE
Music
Press
Baerman exhibits considerable technical ease and melodic aplomb in both his spirited improvisations and his original compositions. - Steve Futterman
Fortunately, Baerman has the chops to more than hold his own with this estimable company. Much more than just a commendable exercise in education and humanitarianism, this is a wonderful and inspiring musical journey that's a testament to the power of jazz, humor and positive energy to turn a challenging situation into one of joy and hope. - Joel Roberts
Pianist Noah Baerman has a most interesting style: the heavy touch of Brubeck (it’s easy to see in your mind’s eye a close-up of the piano key going ‘down’ into the keyboard), some of the angularity of Monk, the humane earthiness of Horace Silver and the stylishness and technique of Kenny Barron (whom Noah B studied under), and he plays in a very relaxed manner that is nonetheless active, engaging and harmonious. - Mark Keresman
Noah Baerman's second CD is inspired by the life and message of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Baerman, who daily faces life's physical challenges unknown to most of us, undoubtedly finds strength in the ideals of Dr. King. The music ranges from a brisk and buoyant trio on Thelonious Monk's Justice to several originals, some of which include a strong orchestral presence. It's clear that Baerman is a talent worth noting, and this is a worthy effort. - George Fendel
The music is neither elegiac nor funereal; instead, this is soul music of the first degree. From the opening notes of the traditional African American spiritual "This Little Light of Mine" to the celebratory bounce of Stevie Wonder's "Happy Birthday," the music is filled with infectious energy and joy. Many of the tracks feature a large ensemble comprising some of the finest musicians on the scene. . . . "Washington 1963" is a bluesy tribute to King's "I Have A Dream" speech that pulses with promise and features a tenor sax solo from Greene and Escoffery's soulful soprano sax lines. Baerman's wife, Kate Ten Eyck, co-authored two of the disk's 11 songs, including the blazing "Memphis, 1968." This music not only celebrates King's life but also his message of non-violent confrontation and burns with the fire of love.
- Richard Kamins
The new recording creates an accessible bridge between the familiar gospel sound with intuitively fitting original jazz scores and improvisations. While jazz improvisation is heavy going for many, the light touch that can be found throughout "Soul Force" makes elegant use of the traditional gospel tunes "This Little Light of Mine" and "(Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody) Turn Me Around."
The entire CD was created around a deep respect for the life and works of Dr. Martin Luther King, and that tribute is unmistakable in the rendition of Thelonious Monk’s "Justice" and Stevie Wonder’s "Happy Birthday" (a song written in recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday), as well as the many tracks written and arranged by Baerman.
- Chuck Workman
His new "Soul Force" is Baerman's fifth release for Lemel Music Productions, a label he founded in 2000. Its compositions were inspired by the life and message of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Most were written by Baerman, but his arrangements of spirituals and pieces by Thelonious Monk and Stevie Wonder provide a wider range of musical styles.
The music brilliantly conveys the many facets of the civil-rights leader: outrage over injustice, staunch optimism, his pacifist and spiritual practices and sense of humor.
- Jennifer Hawkins
With his trio, Kenny Barron protégé Noah Baerman plays jazz that is as soulful and funky as it is thoughtful and lush. - Seth Rogovoy
EDS primarily affects the 30-year-old Baerman in his joints, which are more prone to injury . . . but his trio partners on Patch Kit proved inspiring. - Bill Meredith
Discography
Albums as a leader or co-leader:
- Ripples (2014)
- Turtle Steps (2011)
- Know Thyself (2010)
- Playdate (2009)
- Bliss (2008)
- Soul Force (2005)
- What It Is (2004)
- Patch Kit (2003)
- U-Turn (2002)
- Mr. B's Boogie Band (2000)
- The Question Is (with PRF), 1998
- Positive Rhythmic Force (with PRF), 1996
Photos
Bio
The feelings of overcoming and
transcending are palpable to me. From Muddy Waters to John Coltrane, there is ample proof that it is possible to touch those feelings through sound, and that is why I make music.
Noah Baerman
Jazz pianist and composer Noah Baermans tenacity and his cutting edge yet soulful music have made him an inspiring figure to a growing legion of admirers. Ten years after nearly walking away from the piano due to his struggles with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), an incurable connective tissue disorder with which he was born, Noah is playing and composing with more authority than ever. These challenges and his experiences as a foster parent have deepened his already fierce commitment to message music.
Noah earned his B.Mus. and M.M. from Rutgers University in the 1990s under the mentorship of Kenny Barron (Mr. Baerman is very creative and imaginative and has the technical wherewithal to bring his creative ideas to fruition. Kenny Barron). Since then he has participated in and composed for numerous recordings, including eight CDs as a bandleader. His 2003 release "Patch Kit" features jazz legends Ron Carter and Ben Riley and revolves around his struggles with EDS (Much more than just a commendable exercise in education and humanitarianism, this is a wonderful and inspiring musical journey that's a testament to the power of jazz, humor and positive energy to turn a challenging situation into one of joy and hope. Joel Roberts, All About Jazz New York). Patch Kit raised awareness and funds for EDS and led to an invitation from Marian McPartland to be a guest on her long-running NPR program Piano Jazz in 2005. Two compositions premiered on that show then appeared on his album Soul Force, a tribute to the life and message of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Soul Force featured Noahs writing for large ensemble, here featuring trombonist Robin Eubanks, percussionist Warren Smith and saxophonists Steve Wilson, Jimmy Greene, Wayne Escoffery and Claire Daly. In 2008 he was awarded a "New Works" grant from Chamber Music America/Doris Duke Foundation. The resulting Know Thyself, an emotionally sweeping 65 minute suite for septet, was premiered at Wesleyan Universitys Center for the Arts and at the Jazz Gallery in New York and recorded for a 2010 release.
Baerman lives in Connecticut, and has been gaining a strong reputation as an educator (Noah Baerman understands the craft, the art and the literature of jazz. This is not token acknowledgement, but knowledge. Phil Schaap, Grammy-winning producer and Curator, Jazz at Lincoln Center). He teaches at several institutions including Wesleyan University, where he directs the Jazz Ensemble and teaches graduate courses in music. His teaching concepts have been codified through nine well-regarded instructional books published by the Alfred Publishing Company (I wish these books had existed when I was first getting into jazz. Tom Brislin, Keyboard). His blog, NB Pontificates, covers topics ranging from frank discussions of his experiences as a survivor of disability and child sexual abuse to his popular musical Top 10 lists and his own vegetarian recipes. In 2012 he was named Artistic Director of Resonant Motion, Inc., an organization that seeks to explore and deepen connections between music and social causes, as well as forming the Jazz Samaritan Alliance, a collective of accomplished artists working to compose and perform socially conscious music. Other projects in the works include a multi-media collaboration with photographer Carla Ten Eyck depicting survivors of cancer and other life-shaking challenges, a foster care-themed set of compositions titled There But for the Grace, and a series of largely improvised collaborations with his wife, visual and performance artist Kate Ten Eyck.
It is an amazing gift to have a bright
future in spite of adversity. I hope to create things of sufficient beauty that I can give that gift back many times over.
Noah
Baerman
Band Members
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