Valley Rhythms

by Lola Rossi-Meza

Pianist Joel Baker accompanies singers for “The Voice of the Valley”

A very busy pianist and vocalist, Joel Baker performs every Thursday, from 6:30 until 9:30 p.m., at the Rainbow Bar and Grill located at 216 South Indian Canyon Drive in Palm Springs; every Sunday from 6 until 9 p.m., at Studio One 11 located at 67-555 East Palm Canyon Drive in Cathedral City; and every Monday at the Streetbar located at 224 East Arenas Road in Palm Springs. This Saturday, August 25, from 8 until 10 p.m., Baker will accompany vocalist Francesca Amari in a show called “You Make Me Laugh – A Tribute to Gilda Radner” at Azul Restaurant located at 369 North Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs. (760) 325-5533.
Baker is currently the accompanist for “The Voice of the Valley” Cabaret Open Mic Competition presented by The Carol Channing-Harry Kullijian Foundation For the Arts. The event is being held every Tuesday from 7:30 until 10:30 p.m. in The Lounge at the Agua Caliente Casino located at 32-350 Bob Hope Drive in Rancho Mirage. There is only one more night of competition being held on Tuesday, August 28. Executive Director of the Foundation and producer of this event, David Green is co-host with Les Michaels throughout the competition. For general rules and guidelines, please visit www.LesMichaels.com/votv.
The seven vocalists from this event will perform in the Final Competition on Tuesday, September 4. The winner will be called “The Voice of the Valley” and will be a featured singer in “A Magical Night On Broadway” starring Jo Anne Worley on Saturday, September 8, at The Show in the Agua Caliente Casino.
Born and raised in Bellevue, Washington, Baker found the piano very intriguing when he was two years old and would pick out the notes he heard when listening to the radio. He would make up his own songs and sing them to his family long before he entered the first grade. “I started formal classical piano training when I was six years old,” said Baker, “I was very attracted to the music you would hear on an elevator, like the Montovani Orchestra.” As a youth, Baker would play at church for the choir. In Junior High, he participated in many competitions as a vocalist, but didn’t want to draw attention to his piano skills. However, being a pianist in High School was a different story. “I loved all the attention I received from playing the piano and I enjoyed playing for all the singers.” His played his first professional gig at the age of 16.
He attended North Park College in Chicago for a while and then transferred to the University of Washington School of Music, where he studied piano with Robin McCabe and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. He later secured a job at Nordstrom‘s Department Store as their resident pianist for 15 years. “I was employed by the store with full benefits and worked a six-hour shift, five days a week.” Since he didn’t have to play dance music in night clubs, like many of his friends, Baker was able to build a very nice repertoire of music, including Broadway Show Tunes and the Great American Songbook.
In 2003, Baker moved to Palm Springs where he started working in local restaurants and night clubs. “Shortly after moving to Palm Springs, I performed my first gig at Le Paon Restaurant in Palm Desert, and then at the Agua Bar and Grill at the Spa Resort Hotel in Palm Springs.” In 2007, he garnered a Desert Theatre League Award for Best Musical Direction of a Cabaret Show, “The Great American Love Song,” with Jerome Elliott. Later that year, he released his first solo CD entitled, “Love Letters” available for purchase at CD Baby and on his web-site: www.MisterPiano.com where you can also contact him. (760) 641-3251.
Since 2008, Baker has been the Musical Director for numerous Cabarets and also part of Les Michael’s Sunday in Summer Cabaret Series. He is the pianist and a vocalist for Jim Borax‘s Talent Revue & Swingin’ Sing-Along; a member of close-harmony male quartet Desert Blend; Staff accompanist at the College of the Desert; and during the summer, he leaves for Walla Walla, Washington, where is a faculty member at the Midsummer Musical Retreat.
“Earlier this year, I played at an event honoring Broadway Composer Stephen Schwartz. I accompanied Andrea McArdle, who was the original “Annie,” Hunter Parrish from the TV Series “Weeds” and Kate Flannery from “The Office,” as well as many local singers. It was a wonderful experience.”