After Cream and Blind Faith had both ended, Baker started his own project, dubbed Ginger Baker's Air Force. The name comes from a term used to describe a section of musicians in a big band who were addicted to heroin. Being so high all the time, it seemed fitting that those groups would be called air forces. Seeing as how Baker had a love of jazz and illicit substances, it seemed like the most appropriate name for his own band. Don't let the name fool you, though. These guys are extremely tight players and have a very eclectic style. It draws quite a bit from African music, particularly in terms of rhythm. Since being introduced to several African genres by one of his mentors, Phil Seamen, Baker developed an appreciation for those styles that would stay with him for the rest of his life. In fact, he lived in several different parts of Africa throughout his lifetime, studying its music and implementing its elements into his own, drawing influence from artists like Fela Kuti, who pioneered the genre of Afrobeat. Blending his African influences with his jazz background resulted in a unique style of music that you hear in tonight's Music Club.
Got any favorite drummers?
