Bio

Current Album

 "Too Much is Never Enough" – Timezone Records 08/2023

“Baker accompanies his critical lyrics with catchy melodies and rocking rhythms which have real earworm character.” – HAMBURGER ABENDBLATT

The music of London-born harmonica player, singer and composer Steve Baker has a clear profile which sets itself apart from his work as a sideman. His self-penned songs span a broad stylistic range, from grooving Americana, blues and country, to funk & acoustic rock. What they all have in common, however, is Baker's pop sensibility, which gives his compositions a character all their own, featuring catchy choruses while avoiding clichés.

Steve Baker has long enjoyed an international reputation as an innovative and stylistically versatile pioneer on the harmonica. With his solo album "Perfect Getaway", released in 2018, and its follow-up "The Great Divide" (2020), he shed the role of accompanist for the first time, presenting his exciting original compositions with conviction and intensity. Always in the service of the song, Steve's funky, melodic and elegant harmonica style is instantly recognizable, forming a perfect foil to his voice. With his third solo album Too Much Is Never Enough, Baker steps back to his acoustic roots, creating compositions that sound both totally familiar as well as fresh and original. With the new line-up of The LiveWires, he has found the ideal vehicle for his expressive songs.

The combination of harmonica, guitar, upright bass and three-part vocal harmonies fits perfectly to Steve Baker’s distinctive compositions, with a powerful rhythmical component enhanced by compelling solo passages. Dense ensemble playing alternates with airy openness, and the sparsely arranged band sound displays great dynamics. The songs have attitude and strike a deeply personal note that reflects our turbulent times, while Baker's inimitable harp playing is the icing on the cake, inventive and melodic, always to the point.

As an accompanist and partner, he has performed and recorded with many highly respected artists over the course of his professional career, including Tony Sheridan, Abi Wallenstein and Chris Jones. Baker has worked as a studio musician on hundreds of recordings for artists including Hazmat Modine, Klaus Doldinger, Dionne Warwick and Marla Glenn. He has also played on various soundtracks for TV and film, including Soul Kitchen by Fatih Akin or the June 2018 Bollywood blockbuster "Sanju" by Indian star director Rajkumar Hirani.  He enjoys an international reputation as an author of groundbreaking harmonica literature, teacher and long term consultant to the Hohner company.

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