By SELMA Grows
This week, Support and Education for Local Music and Arts gets tuned into local pianist, Joel Baker. This charming man epitomizes class through accompaniment. His ability to encourage and support performers truly creates a safe atmosphere for both the performer and the observer.
Born in Bellevue, Washington and raised east of Seattle, Joel began playing the piano by ear when he was about two years old, and can’t remember not being able to play. This led to several years of lessons and a degree in Music from the University of Washington in 1989. While in Seattle, Joel was a pianist for Nordstrom for fifteen years.
After moving to the Coachella Valley in 2003, Joel began to perform for local venues. He currently plays at Streetbar in Palm Springs on Mondays, as well as for “The Judy Show” at Palm Springs’ Purple Room on Sunday evenings with performer Michael Holmes.
On Wednesdays and Saturdays, Joel plays for Open Mic nights at Blame It On Midnight and AJ’s On The Green, respectively, with local producer Les Michaels as emcee. Singers are invited to sign up at 7:00 and encouraged to bring sheet music for the 7:30 show. Blame It On Midnight is located at 777 E. Tahquitz Canyon in Palm Springs, and AJ’s is in the Date Palm Country Club in Cathedral City.
Joel is also a vocalist who sings in the male quartet, Desert Blend, the winners of two Desert Theater League awards. One of the highlights of Joel’s career was in 2012 as the music director for an event honoring Broadway composer Stephen Schwartz. It was produced by the Desert Ensemble Theater Company, and directed by Scott Logsdon. Joel also had the opportunity to accompany Andrea McArdle, the original “Annie” from Broadway, as well as television’s Hunter Parrish (“Weeds”) and Kate Flannery (“The Office”), as well as various local talented performers.
Joel currently works at College Of The Desert as an accompanist for the schools choirs, and voice classes under the leadership of Tim Bruneau. His gratitude toward this opportunity is refreshing. Joel is thankful to utilize his Classical training and serve the students of College of the Desert in this way.
As he continues to excel as a member of the Coachella Valley community Joel raises eyebrows and generates genuine humor due to his fetching personality. He offers a sense of serenity and peace to those who are lucky enough to join him as his or her accompanist and appreciates all the styles of music that he is given the chance to play. Mr. Joel Baker has even taken the time to transfer first grade students written musical note arrangements into legitimate recording that the students may review and interpret through the Support and Education for Local Music and Arts program at the Learning Tree Palm Desert.
We celebrate Joel Baker and thank him for his hard work to fill our air with the sound of music. Please check out Joel’s web site at www.misterpiano.com!
