Chase Baird

Baird was born in Seattle, Washington.{{cite web|title=Meet saxophone prodigy Chase Baird|first=Alisha|last=Self|publisher=Park Record|url=http://www.parkrecord.com/ci_15881103|format=HMTL|accessdate=June 20, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810011523/http://www.parkrecord.com/ci_15881103|archive-date=August 10, 2014|url-status=dead}} He was introduced to music at an early age by his father, a trumpet player who played in rock bands and doubled on an eclectic collection of instruments, including saxophone, flute, Rhodes, synthesizer and percussion.{{cite web|title=Sax Man Chase Baird on Hanging with Brecker, East Coast vs. West Coast, Ditching the Doubles, and More|first=Zach |last=Sollitto |date=April 23, 2020 |publisher=Best Saxophone Website Ever|url=https://www.bestsaxophonewebsiteever.com/sax-man-chase-baird-on-practicing-east-coast-vs-west-coast-ditching-the-doubles-and-more/|format=HMTL|accessdate= May 1, 2020}} His family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1996. He began to play the saxophone around age ten, and eventually studied jazz and improvisation for several years with saxophonist Alan Braufman.

During his teenage years, Baird became highly influenced by the music of saxophonist Michael Brecker. A chance encounter with drummer Jeff Hamilton inspired Baird to try to connect with Brecker directly for music lessons. Baird's family made contact via Brecker's manager and Brecker agreed to meet in person next time he traveled through Salt Lake City in early 2003. Although brief, Baird cites Brecker's mentorship around this time as influential on the trajectory of his career.{{cite web|title =Colleagues, Collaborators Remember Michael Brecker in NYC Concert |first=Ted|last=Panken|work=Down Beat|date=January 27, 2017 | url =http://downbeat.com/news/detail/colleagues-collaborators-remember-michael-brecker-in-nyc-concert| format =HMTL| accessdate =February 8, 2017}}

Baird's family relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2004. He collaborated with other young musicians, including pianist Julian Waterfall Pollack, composer/arranger Kyle Athayde and trumpeter Billy Buss during this time.{{cite web|title =Julian Pollack in Mendocino for Family Biz |first=David |last=Wiegand |work=San Francisco Chronicle | url =http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Julian-Pollack-in-Mendocino-for-family-biz-3181303.php| format =HMTL| accessdate =March 3, 2015 }} He graduated from Acalanes High School in Lafayette, California in 2006.{{cite web|title =MJF Announces Next Generation Jazz Orchestra|first=|last= | url =https://www.j-notes.com/2005/04/mjf_announces_next_generation/| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20200922090936/https://www.j-notes.com/2005/04/mjf_announces_next_generation/| url-status =usurped| archive-date =September 22, 2020| format =HMTL| accessdate =May 4, 2020 }}

Baird attended Diablo Valley College for one year, primarily studying psychology. He later transferred to California State University, Long Beach to study music, notably with saxophonists Eric Marienthal, Sal Lozano and Jay Mason. He left after two years and eventually relocated to New York City, where he enrolled at The Juilliard School (studying with Ron Blake, Steve Wilson, Joe Temperley, Frank Kimbrough, Kendall Briggs and others) and completed an undergraduate degree in 2014.{{cite web|title =Chase Baird – Crosscurrent – Junebeat Records |first=Tim |last=Taylor |date=April 4, 2011 |publisher=Audiophile Audition | url =http://audaud.com/2011/04/chase-baird-–-crosscurrent-–-junebeat-records/| format =HMTL| accessdate =December 5, 2014 }}{{cite web| title =Juilliard Jazz Ensembles Perform Student Original Compositions| work =Juilliard Journal| url =http://www.juilliard.edu/about/newsroom/2012-13/juilliard-jazz-ensembles-perform-student-original-compositions-my-point-view| format =HMTL| accessdate =December 26, 2016| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20161227062534/http://www.juilliard.edu/about/newsroom/2012-13/juilliard-jazz-ensembles-perform-student-original-compositions-my-point-view| archive-date =December 27, 2016| url-status =dead}}{{cite web|title =Stream Saxophonist Chase Baird's Lead Single "Ripcord" Off 'A Life Between' (Premiere) |first=Sébastien |last=Hélary |publisher=Nextbop |url =https://www.nextbop.com/blog/stream-saxophonist-chase-bairds-lead-single-ripcord-off-a-life-between-premiere| format =HMTL| accessdate =July 20, 2019}}

In 2009, he was featured in the soundtrack to Emancipated, a film by P.K. Ziainia with music by composer Rodrigo Denis.{{cite web|title =Emancipated: Full Cast & Crew |publisher=IMDb | url =https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1491599/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast| format =HMTL| accessdate =December 5, 2014 }}

Baird recorded and released his debut album, Crosscurrent, in 2010, featuring pianist Julian Waterfall Pollack, guitarist John Storie, bassist Christopher Tordini, drummer Steve Lyman and percussionist James Yoshizawa.{{cite web|title =Chase Baird: Crosscurrent |first=Bruce|last=Lindsay |work=All About Jazz|date=October 7, 2010 | url =http://www.allaboutjazz.com/crosscurrent-chase-baird-junebeat-records-review-by-bruce-lindsay.php| accessdate =June 20, 2014 }}

Baird joined drummer Antonio Sánchez's group Migration in 2018, recording both saxophone and Electronic Wind Instrument on the group's critically acclaimed album Lines in the Sand.{{cite magazine|title =Song You Need to Know: Antonio Sanchez, 'Bad Hombres y Mujeres' |first=Hank|last=Shteamer |magazine=Rolling Stone|date=January 23, 2019 | url =https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-latin/antonio-sanchez-birdman-drummer-anti-trump-bad-hombres-y-mujeres-782659/| format =HMTL| accessdate =February 4, 2019 }} He also co-led the band Venture, alongside drummer Mike Clark, vibraphonist Mark Sherman and electric bassist Felix Pastorius. The group released their first album Life Cycle on Ropeadope Records.{{cite web|title =Venture, LIVE at the Falcon |work=Poughkeepsie Journal |url =http://events.poughkeepsiejournal.com/marlboro_ny/events/venture-live-falcon-/E0-001-104201008-7| format =HMTL| accessdate =March 13, 2018}}

Baird released A Life Between, his second album as a leader in August 2019. The recording features Brad Mehldau, Antonio Sánchez, Nir Felder and Dan Chmielinski.{{cite web|title =Take Five, All-Star Edition: Bold New Music by Crosscurrents Trio, Kris Davis, Tim Ries & More|first=Nate |last=Chinen |date=August 12, 2019 |publisher=WGBO |url =https://www.wbgo.org/post/take-five-all-star-edition-bold-new-music-crosscurrents-trio-kris-davis-tim-ries-more| format =HMTL| accessdate =August 14, 2019}} He collaborated with drummer Steve Lyman to compose, record and produce the electro-acoustic composition Pulsar, later released in July 2020.{{cite video |people=Steve Lyman |date=July 9, 2019 |title= Steve Lyman Pulsar Performance |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jc8r0mbWA9A |accessdate=January 14, 2020}}

He has performed or recorded with artists Chaka Khan, Bill Champlin, Matthew Morrison, Jakob Dylan, Diana Degarmo, Chloe Agnew and Morgan James.{{cite news|title =Cool Song-and-Dance Man Coolly Sings and Dances: Matthew Morrison's Show Nods to Cory Monteith at 54 Below |first=Stephen |last=Collar Holden |work=The New York Times|date=July 15, 2013 | url =https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/16/arts/music/matthew-morrisons-show-nods-to-cory-monteith-at-54-below.html| format =HMTL| accessdate =September 8, 2014}}{{cite web|title =Hunter Morgan James |first= |last= |work=All Music| url =https://www.allmusic.com/album/hunter-mw0002662522/credits| format =HMTL| accessdate =January 25, 2021}} He has also worked with jazz and fusion artists including Chris Botti, Mike Stern, Antonio Farao, Aaron Parks, Thana Alexa, Dennis Chambers, Gary Grainger, Gene Perla, Dan Tepfer, Thomas Dawson, Victor Wooten, Keith Carlock, Circuit Kisser and the Mingus Big Band, among others.{{cite web|title =CD Review: Chase Baird, Crosscurrent |first=David|last=Wiegand |work=San Francisco Chronicle| url =http://www.sfgate.com/music/article/CD-review-Chase-Baird-Crosscurrent-3253296.php| format =HMTL| accessdate =June 20, 2014 }}{{cite web|title =Chase Baird | url =http://www.chasebaird.com| format =HMTL| accessdate =March 13, 2018 }}{{cite web|title =From Birdman to the unique magic of the Blue Note. No words, only applause for Antonio Sanchez |first=Kevin|last=Ben Ali Zinati |date=March 27, 2017 |publisher=La Provincia di Varese |url =http://www.laprovinciadivarese.it/stories/eventi-e-mostre/da-birdman-alla-magia-unica-del-blue-note-niente-parole-solo-applausi-per-anto_1230681_11/| format =HMTL| accessdate =June 22, 2017 }}{{cite web|title =Antonio Faraò alla Nave de Vero |date=July 24, 2019 |publisher=Il Gazzettino| url =https://www.ilgazzettino.it/pay/venezia_pay/antonio_farao_alla_nave_de_vero_voglio_sorprendere_il_pubblico-4637471.html| format =HMTL| accessdate =July 29, 2019}} His work as a featured soloist with the Kyle Athayde Dance Party has garnered over one million views on YouTube.{{cite web|title =Mario Kart 64 - Main Theme |first= |last= |website= YouTube|date= March 17, 2016| url =https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJG4FMSSprw| format =HMTL| accessdate =January 25, 2021}}

Chase additionally plays guitar, acoustic and electric, with his sister Christine Baird and her band Rocky Mountain Soul.{{cite web|title =Chase Baird Bio |first= |last= |website= www.soundsaboundrecords.com| url =https://www.soundsaboundrecords.com/chase-baird| format =HMTL| accessdate =May 3, 2024}}

• Pulsar (Outside In Music, 2020) with Steve Lyman, J3PO (Julian Pollack) & Dan Chmielinski
• A Life Between (Soundsabound Records, 2019) with Brad Mehldau, Nir Felder, Dan Chmielinski and Antonio Sanchez{{cite web|title =Chase Baird | url =http://www.chasebaird.com| format =HMTL| accessdate =March 20, 2018 }}
• Crosscurrent (Junebeat Records, 2010) with Julian Pollack, John Storie, Chris Tordini, Steve Lyman and James Yoshizawa

• Life Cycle (Ropeadope Records, 2018) with Mark Sherman, Felix Pastorius and Mike Clark

• Trail Loop –Enrico Solazzo with Roberto Gatto and Chase Baird (Jazz AG Records, 2025)
• The Animal Situation – Thomas Dawson (Independent, 2022)
• Michael & Me – Jeremy Green with Victor Wooten, Keith Carlock and Chase Baird (Independent, 2020)
• Force Tranquille – Jean-marie Corrois (Independent, 2020)
• Faking The Moon Landing – Circuit Kisser (Soundsabound Records, 2019)
• Lines in the Sand – Antonio Sanchez & Migration (CAM Jazz, 2018){{cite web|title =Antonio Sánchez and Migration, Lines in the Sand, CAM Jazz **** recommended |publisher=Marlbank | url =https://www.marlbank.net/4665-antonio-sánchez.html| format =HMTL| accessdate =November 28, 2018 }}
• Language of Sound and Spirit – Joshua Maxey (Independent, 2012){{cite web|title =Josh Maxey: The Language Of Sound And Spirit |work=All About Jazz |date=April 28, 2012 | url =https://www.allaboutjazz.com/josh-maxey-the-language-of-sound-and-spirit-by-dave-sumner.php?width=1600| format =HMTL| accessdate =February 10, 2017 }}
• Hunter – Morgan James (Epic, 2014){{cite web|title =Hunter |first=Matt|last=Collar |publisher=AllMusic| url =http://www.allmusic.com/album/hunter-mw0002662522/credits| format =HMTL| accessdate =June 20, 2014 }}
• Celebration of Soul – Joshua Maxey (Independent, 2015){{cite web|title =Celebration of Soul - Josh Maxey |publisher=AllMusic| url =http://www.allmusic.com/album/celebration-of-soul-mw0002852139/releases| format =HMTL| accessdate =February 10, 2017 }}

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• {{Official website| http://www.chasebaird.com/}}

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Category:1988 births

Category:Living people

Category:Post-bop saxophonists

Category:American jazz saxophonists

Category:American multi-instrumentalists

Category:American male saxophonists

Category:American jazz composers

Category:American male jazz composers

Category:Juilliard School alumni

Category:21st-century American saxophonists

Category:21st-century American male musicians

Category:Caleb Chapman's Crescent Super Band members