Shorty Baker & Doc Cheatham

Harold "Shorty" Baker had a mellow sound and a lyrical style that was the modern successor to Arthur Whetsol in the Duke Ellington Orchestra. Originally a drummer, Baker switched to trumpet as a teenager. A fine section player and a warm soloist, Baker played with Fate Marable on riverboats, Erskine Tate, Don Redman (1936-1938), Teddy Wilson's orchestra (1939-1940), and Andy Kirk (1940-1942). He married Mary Lou Williams (Kirk's pianist at the time). Baker was with Duke Ellington's Orchestra off and on during 1942-1962 (particularly 1943-1951 and 1957-1959), during which he wa...