July 2001

Seatle Sound
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By Jason West

Located on a wooded hillside in rural Redmond, far from the hustle and bustle of downtown Seattle, Bake’s Place is a smoke-free private music venue specially created for jazz connoisseurs. Bake’s Place occupies the first floor of Baker’s private residence, which he has transformed into an up-scale “Chicago-style” jazz and blues club with a premium on musical intimacy. Bake’s fashionably decorated indoor listening area features numerous classic photographs of jazz legends. The room seats 50 and includes a wet bar and an elegant Yamaha C-3 baby grand piano.

A semi-professional singer and experienced music promoter, Baker opened Bake’s Place over two years ago with the intention of creating an atmosphere where musicians can feel at home and their audience “doesn’t feel miles away from the music.” According to Baker, the three essential elements of live music are “the musicians, the music, and the audience. My purpose has always been to bring them together.”

Many regional and national musicians who have played at Bake’s Place extol the club’s virtues, including New York pianist and Northwest favorite George Cables. Cables, who compares the mood at Bake’s to the popular Maybeck concerts, sees a trend developing in jazz toward house parties and private performances. “Bake’s Place is really good for me as a pianist because it brings me very close to the audience,” says Cables. “I get to talk to people and hang out with them as well, and it’s good for the audience because they can get close to the musician that they go to hear.”

Pianist Jessica Williams agrees. “Craig Baker has done a wonderful job of creating an environment that lends itself perfectly to the creation and enjoyment of great jazz music,” says Williams. She notes that the musicians are "front and center," with a surrounding ambience that even the best jazz venues lack. “The audience is treated to a relaxed yet focused atmosphere of pure creativity in action, up-close and personal.”

Since opening in early 1999, Bake’s Place club membership has reached 450 members, and Baker hopes to increase that figure to 1,500 in the near future. Of course, membership has its privileges and price. An annual membership cost $50 and ticket prices for each show regularly run close to $25. According to Baker, “Our goal for the future is to grow and to present music in an environment that everyone can enjoy.”

Craig Baker, owner of Bake’s Place jazz club, recently announced the line-up for his Summer Jazz and Blues BBQ concert series beginning this month. The series, which features 11 straight weekends of live music, includes performances this month by New Stories with Ray Vega (July 6); Marilyn Keller and Rue de Blues (July 14); OriginArts Showcase featuring Matt Jorgensen’s +451, New Stories, Chuck Deardorf with Dave Peterson, and the Jeff Johnson Trio (July 21); and Korla Wygal and her Private Reserve (July 28) The format for each event includes a 5 PM pre-concert barbeque served on Bake’s scenic deck and patio, followed by outdoor live music starting at 6. Maximum seating for each show is 150.

Bake’s Place Summer Jazz, Blues and BBQ concert schedule:

New Stories with Ray Vega, July 6
Marilyn Keller and Rue de Blues, July 14
OriginArts Showcase, July 21
Korla Wygal and her Private Reserve, July 28
Indiegrrl Songwriter Showcase, August 4
Jeffrey Sick and Guarneri Underground, August 10
Dee Daniels Trio, August 18
Bakes’s Place Annual All-Star Jazz Jam, August 25
Bill Ramsey Sextet, September 2
Sounds of Seattle Singer-Songwriter Showcase, September 8
Lily Wilde and her Jumpin’ Jubilee Orchestra, September 15

For more details about Bake’s Place call 425-898-0311 or visit www.bakesplace.org