Azure Intention

...[A] remarkable recording into which an obvious amount of care has been taken to gift their listeners with music of depth and color too rare in these days.
Brad Walseth, JazzChicago.net

In addition to being a fluid, heartfelt improviser, Denver-based saxophonist, Lynn Baker, composes with an ear for melody and a mind for artistic challenge. On Azure Intention, Baker's debut recording for OA2 Records, he presents eight originals that were penned over the last 20 years. Along with pianist Reggie Berg, drummer Paul Mullikin, and bassist Bijoux Barbosa, they create a cohesive, resonating statement ranging from "Lament," an open wound responding to the impending first Gulf War, to the hard-driving swing of "Into the Blues," and the strutting "Appalachian Shuffle."

Production Info:

Produced by Lynn Baker
Recorded by Scott Griess
at Mile High Music, Denver, CO
on March 17 & 18, 2010
Mixed by Jeff Jenkins at Mile High Music
Mastered by Scott Griess
Artwork & photography by Kalin Baker
Design & layout by John Bishop

Reviews of Azure Intention

Jazz Society of Oregon (Kyle O'Brien)
Denver-based saxophonist Baker is the Director of Jazz studies at the University of Denver, and on this, his debut recording for OA2 records, he shows a sophistication and lovely tone. There is introspection on the opening tracks, "Color Line" and "Lament," which are both beautiful and melancholy. Baker's improvising is fluid and not flashy, even w ...

JazzChicago.net (Brad Walseth)
Saxophonist Lynn Baker has been the Director of the Jazz Studies program at the University of Denver's Lamont School of Music since 1993. Two of the members of his quartet: pianist Reggie Berg and drummer Paul Mullikin are graduates of the program, while Brazilian-born bassist Bijoux Barbosa is well-regarded player on the Denver scene. Meanwhile, t ...

All About Jazz (James Nadal)
From the opening bass lines of "Color Line" on Azure Intention, it is evident that saxophonist Lynn Baker's Quartet comes out swinging and grooving. But there is also a captivating sense of sophistication, thoughtfully played into the selections. Baker -- ?who doubles deftly on both soprano and tenor saxophones -- composed all of Azure Intention ...

Amazon.com (Amazon.com)
In addition to being a fluid, heartfelt improviser, Denver-based saxophonist, Lynn Baker composes with an ear for melody and a mind for artistic challenge. On Azure Intention, Baker's debut recording for OA2 Records, he presents eight originals that were penned over the last 20 years. Along with pianist Reggie Berg, drummer Paul Mullikin, and ba ...

Jazziz (John Frederick Moore)
Saxophonist Lynn Baker has been a fixture in the Denver jazz scene for nearly 20 years, so don't beat yourself up if the name doesn't ring a bell. The work he's put in over that time has culminated in this largely solid recording of eight original tunes. Whether on tenor or soprano, Baker's tone is light with just a hint of vibrato. He glides ef ...

All Music Guide (Ken Dryden)
Lynn Baker was both a jazz musician and educator for a long time prior to this CD, evidently his belated recording debut as a leader. Accompanied by two graduates of the Jazz Studies program at the University of Denver (pianist Reggie Berg and drummer Paul Mulikin), which he directs, plus Brazilian bassist Bijoux Barbosa, Baker showcases eight comp ...

Examiner.com (Timothy Breckon)
Malcolm Lynn (Lynn) Baker has influenced many musicians you listen to in Denver but you probably do not even know it. The current head of the University of Denver's Lamont School of Music's Jazz Program and former director of admissions for Lamont as a whole is something of a modern day renaissance man. I performed under his direction for four year ...