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#44- LISA BAKER 
 From
Lisa Baker Website:
Shredding the 'blonde from California' stereotype, Lisa baker smartens up the image
of the female guitar player.
Currently supporting the release of her jazz CD, "Song for a New Day",
Lisa separates herself from the current crop of female singer-songwriters
by taking on multiple roles, including those of producer, engineer
and songwriter. But most impressive is her role as guitarist. Her ability
to improvise alongside such respected musicians as Oteil Burbridge,
Derico
Watson, and Regi Wooten puts her in a category all on her own.
Born and raised in southern California, Lisa studied piano under the
wing of her jazz pianist mother. She expanded her musical horizons by
studying violin, upright bass, oboe, and voice. When Lisa was 12, her
family moved to Seattle, Washington. "I stole my mother's acoustic
guitar when i was a senior in high school," Lisa confeses. "She
just never saw it again." Lisa strummed folk songs and church music
on the instrument. The guitar's easy mobility and flexibility made it
her instrument of choice.
During her college years and after, Lisa played in a variety of smoky
European folk clubs. She also toured Japan and canada. Once home, she
performed solo gigs in restaurants and nightclubs, warming up for such
acts as Rodney Dangerfield, Tina Turner, and Ricky Scaggs.
In 1984, Lisa relocated to Nashville, TN, where she makes her home today.
She formed the Lisa Baker Band and played with the Fisk Jazz Ensemble.
It was while living in 'Music City, USA' that Lisa learned to write songs.
Eventually she turned from rhythm guitar playing to lead soloing.
 Lisa's custom guitar is her trademark, a one-of-a-kind piece of art
forged in 3 countries. Lisa designed it herself and had nashville axe-master
Joe Glaser assemble it out of a Fender body and a Warmoth neck, with
Seymour Duncan pickups and a Floyd Rose tremolo. She then sent it to
Norway to have traditional Roemalin designs handpainted on the body.
(Lisa nixed having trolls in the design and opted for flowers only.)
Back in th U.S., Lisa adorned the body with jewels. Finally, England's
Sims Electronics got a hold of the guitar and fitted it with colored
lights down the neck and inside the knobs. The effect is stunning. Who
can forget the image of the statuesque blonde, center stage, with fingers
flying over an instrument both ancient and futuristic in design? Anyone
wishing to experience this needs only to head over to 3rd and Linsley
on any given wednesday, where Lisa sits in with the Wooten Brothers Band.
For her album, Lisa surrounded herself with some of the top musicians
in teh Nashville area. She co-wrote many of the tunes with her guitar
teacher and mentor, Regi Wooten. Regi was instrumental in Lisa's development
as a fast playing, sweep picking soloist. For his part, Regi contributed
some bass tracks on the disc as well, Joseph on keyboards and Victor on bass. Lisa also has help from Allman Brother's bassist Oteil Burbridge.
With musical influences ranging from Wes Montgomery to jimi Hendrix,
Lisa's "Song for a New Day" offers a fusion of styles. "Night Ride," the
first song written for the album, combines Lisa's smooth jazz vocals
with shredding guitars. This first song and the folky "Home" are
the two tracks that feature Lisa singing lead vocals. Her haunting background
vocals weave in and out of other tunes such as her only cover tune, Freddi
Hubbard's "Little Sunflower." "Blue-nana" was written
for her grandmother whose passing allowed Lisa to buy the ProTools system
used in recording the album. For the CD's finale, Lisa recorded her jam
buddies for a hooky, high-energy track. "Jam@Lisa's" includes
shredding from nashville hotshots Joseph Wooten, Adam Charney, Rocky
Ganglani, Shane Roberts, Eric Vogel, Robert Provine, Johnathan Estes and Jeffrey Scott Wills. Lisa concludes with her own screaming, distorted
improv. It's an ending that embodies lisa's own philosophy, "Surround
yourself with great people and you'll elevate yourself to that level."
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