Bassist • Educator • Arranger/Composer • Songwriter
Bio
Dr. David Baker is a bassist, arranger, composer, and educator based in Utah. He currently serves as Assistant Professor and Area Coordinator of Jazz & Commercial Music at Utah Valley University, where he directs the Jazz Orchestra and oversees the jazz and commercial music programs. He is also the Director of Westmoon Records—a blind peer-reviewed label under non-profit organization Hot House West that supports local artists through the full recording and release process—and serves as Staff Arranger and bassist for the Hot House West Swing Orchestra. David was a key resource as Hot House West acquired non-profit status and served previously as an Interim Board Member (2023-2024) and the Director of Programs (2023-2024). In addition, he maintains the role of Webmaster for the Utah chapter of the American String Teachers Association (ASTA).
David earned his Doctor of Arts in Jazz Studies from the University of Northern Colorado, with emphases in both performance and composition. Over the past two decades, he has performed at festivals and venues including Jazz at Lincoln Center, Vail Jazz Festival, Moab Music Festival, The Jazz Education Network Conference, International Society of Bassists Conventions, Baltimore Old Time Festival, Utah Presents: Jazz at Kingsbury Hall, The Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame, Dazzle Jazz & Supper Club, Dare to Be Square, The Velvet Note, the Colorado Symphony, Ogden Friends of Acoustic Music Festival, Five Points Jazz Festival, Gene Harris Jazz Festival, and the Utah Arts Festival. His versatility as a bassist has led him to work in jazz clubs, pit orchestras, recording studios, and touring bands.
Along the way, he’s performed with artists such as Ulysses Owens Jr., Greg Gisbert, Bob Sheppard, Joe Craven, Frankie Avalon, The Platters, Carmen Bradford, Drew Zaremba, Josiah Boornazian, and Corey Christiansen. His electric bass work has also appeared on stage with the Colorado Symphony. In 2019, David was recognized as First Alternate in the International Society of Bassists’ Jazz Performance Competition.
David was raised in a musical family in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia. His grandmother was a pianist and singer in New Orleans, his mother played flute in local pit orchestras, and his brother was a jazz guitarist. These early influences led to a deep love of music across genres—particularly bebop, swing, blues, and acoustic roots traditions. He began playing violin as a child and later studied classical violin at the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University. During that time, he gigged on electric bass in local jazz fusion, blues, and honky tonk bands. In 2013, he made the switch to double bass, which remains his primary instrument today.
Since then, David has built a career at the intersection of performance, education, arranging, and community organizing. He averages 150 performances annually. He’s an active member of the Hot House West Swing Orchestra, Nathan Royal Trio, Pompe n’ Honey, and The Elderblossoms.
In 2022, David developed a deep interest in old-time and bluegrass music, eventually flying to West Virginia to study firsthand at Clifftop and immerse himself in traditional fiddle and string band culture. This journey also inspired a focused study of slap upright bass, particularly in early jazz and Appalachian folk styles. His work in this area culminated in a presentation at the 2023 International Society of Bassists Convention.
As an educator and researcher, David believes in making music education accessible, rigorous, and connected to its cultural roots. He has presented masterclasses and lectures at the 2025, 2023, 2021, and 2019 International Society of Bassists Conventions and at the 2024, 2019, and 2015 Jazz Education Network Conferences. He is also regularly workshopping and adjudicating school ensembles through UMEA jazz festivals and in partnership with other universities such as Brigham Young University, Weber State University, Boise State University, and Snow College. He most recently worked as an invited clinician at the 2025 Utah State Jazz Festival.
He’s a familiar face at community jam sessions and workshops, mentoring up-and-coming musicians and helping to build Utah’s musical ecosystem. His academic research centers on early jazz history and the roles of pluralism and religion in shaping the music. In 2022, he published the article "Opening the Door: Using Pluralism as a Philosophical Lens in the Jazz History Classroom" in Jazz Education in Research and Practice (Indiana University Press).
DISCOGRAPHY:
2025
Mrs. Lucky - Bryn Ripley (Westmoon Records) [Bass]
"Barlow Knife" (SINGLE) - The Elderblossoms [Bass, Engineering, Mixing, Mastering]
Live at Kingsbury Hall - Hot House West Swing Orchestra (Westmoon Records) [Bass, Mixing, Mastering]
Wolf Creek - Pompe n' Honey (Westmoon Records) [Bass, Engineering, Mixing, Mastering]
"Side Saddle" (SINGLE). - Pompe n' Honey (Westmoon Records) [Bass, Engineering, Mixing, Mastering]
"If I Had a Dog" (SINGLE) - Pompe n' Honey (Westmoon Records) [Bass, Engineering, Mixing, Mastering]
Chasing The Muse - Josiah Boornazian (Jazz Hangs Records) [Bass]
2024
Lotus Blossom - Nathan Royal Trio (Westmoon Records) [Bass, Vocals, Engineering, Mixing, Mastering]
"Deja Vu" (SINGLE) - Jake Witt (Independent) [Bass]
"Morning Blue" (SINGLE) - Jake Witt (Independent) [Bass]
Hot Chocolate & Accolades - The Elderblossoms (Westmoon Records) [Bass, Engineering, Mixing, Mastering]
Dig Deeper - Brother Chunky (Independent) [Bass]
The Great, Great Noise - David Ian Baker (Westmoon Records) [Engineering, Mixing, Arranger, Composer, Singer, Violin, Viola, Bass, Guitar, Synthesizer, Sound FX]
Melissa Chilinski - Melissa Chilinski (Westmoon Records) [Bass, Mellotron]
The River Green Sessions - Melissa Chilinski (Westmoon Records) [Bass, Guitar, Vocals, Engineering]
Patron Saint Django - The Hot House West Swing Orchestra (Westmoon Records) [Bass, Vocals, Arranger, Engineering]
2023
The Hallowed Wide - Emily Merrell (Independent) [Electric Bass]
Pictures in Time - Alex Sjobeck & David Baker (Next Level) [Bass, Arranger, Composer, Engineer]
Songs of a Night - Ryan Fourt (Moddl Records) [Bass]
2020
Talking Drums - Bobby Weins (Cellar Live!) [Bass]
风筝飞了一整天 - Xinren Zhou (Loom Records) [Bass]
January May - Sam Costigan (Independent) [Bass]
Love Wears Many Faces - Amaya Arevalo (Independent) [Bass]
287 - Lora Sherrodd (Independent) [Bass]
2019
Minus Piano - David Baker Trio (Moddl Records) [Bass, Arranger, Composer]
2017
Men of Earth - David Ian Baker (Independent) [Arranger, Composer, Guitar, Vocals]
Something About Christmas - SBST (Independent) [Arranger, Bass]
ACADEMIC PRESENTATIONS & PUBLICATIONS:
2025
"Ditching the Amp: How to Get a Big Acoustic Sound on Double Bass" - International Society of Bassists Convention (Tallahassee, FL)
"Slap Bass 101" - Hot House West Online Course
2024
"Slap Upright Bass Basics" - Hot House West Weekly Workshop Series (Salt Lake City, UT)
"Jam Session Survival" - Ogden Friends of Acoustic Music Festival (OFOAM) [with Josie-O & the Big 6] (Ogden, UT)
"Opening the Door: Using Pluralism as a Philosophical Lens in the Jazz History Classroom" - Jazz Education Network Webinar Series (Virtual)
"Jam Session 101" - Baltimore Oldtime Music Festival [with the Elderblossoms] (Baltimore, MD)
2023
"Non-Traditional Genres for Violin" - Utah American String Teachers Association Fall Workshop
"Early Jazz to Country Swing: How to Teach Yourself Slap Technique on Upright Bass" - International Society of Bassists Convention (Ann Arbor, MI)
"Performing in a Rhythm Section" - Gene Harris Jazz Festival (Boise, ID)
"Performing in a Chamber Bass Ensemble" - Utah State University (Logan, UT)
2022
"Opening the Door: Using Pluralism as a Philosophical Lens in the Jazz History Classroom" - Journal of Jazz Education in Research and Practice (Indiana University Press)
"The Process of Recording and Releasing an Album" - Idaho Arts Chart School (Boise, ID)
"Utilizing Improvisation to Better Understand Phrasing" - Boise State University (Boise, ID)
"Arranging for Duo Piano and Double Bass" - Northwest Nazarene University (Nampa, ID)
"How to Perform Jazz in a Small Group" - Boise State University (Boise, ID)
2021
"Using Piano Voicings to Expand Your Improvisational Vocabulary" - International Society of Bassists Convention (Virtual)
"Transitioning from Student to Professional Musician" - Utah State University (Logan, UT)
2020
"Consequential Saints: A Preliminary Study of Jazz and Religion in New Orleans" - Jazz Education Network Conference (New Orleans, LA)
For questions regarding
Utah Valley University
and the
Commercial Music Area
email me at
My LATEST Solo Album: The Great, Great Noise
Press Shots
Video
Like a Desert Flower (The Elderblossoms)
Music by David Ian Baker, lyrics by Melissa Chilinski. Recorded live by the Elderblossoms. Featuring Melissa Chilinski, Ben Weiss, Nathan Royal, and Grayson Wickel.
When I Grow Too Old to Dream (Hot House West Swing Orchestra)
David crafted this arrangement for the 14-piece HHW Swing Orchestra based on the Cats and the Fiddle Arrangement from the 1940s.
Emily Merrell - "Bitter Roots"
David is the bassist on this track by pop artist Emily Merrell.
Stories (Alex Sjobeck & David Baker
Original Music Video by Alex Sjobeck & David Ian Baker. From Pictures in Time by Next Level Records.
Bei Mir Bist Du Schön (Hot House West Swing Orchestra)
David is the lead arranger and bassist for the HHW Swing Orchestra.
Aravah (Alex Sjobeck & David Baker
Live from the Noorda Center of the Performing Arts at Utah Valley University.
Doodlin' (Jenna McLean Quartet - Five Points Jazz Festival)
Live from the Five Points Jazz Festival with Jenna McLeanm(Vox), Annie Booth (piano), Alejandro Castañ0 (drums).
Tyrone (Bass Solo)
Transcribed bass solo from a live performance with the Ryan Fourt Trio at Jay's Bistro in Fort Collins, CO. Featuring Ryan Fourt and Hiroki Kitizawa.
Ganjam (Original 8-Piece Arrangement) - Lincoln Center
My reimagined arrangement of the Jelly Roll Morton classic performed at Lincoln Center by the Vanguard Octet. Featuring Marc Schwartz, Shawn Williams, Austin Cebulske, Zach Rich, David Mesquitic, Jack Roben, and Hiroki Kitizawa.
Copyright © 2025 David Ian Baker - All Rights Reserved.