Former student honors IU jazz professor with book

Through 80 years, one IU professor has accumulated a plethora of awards — a national Living Jazz Legend Award, a NEA Jazz Master and being named an Indiana Living Legend.

Now adding to this list, David Baker, a distinguished professor and chair of the Jazz Studies Department at the Jacobs School of Music, has had a book written about him and his storied career.

The book, titled “David Baker: A Legacy in Music,” was written mainly by Baker’s former student and SPEA lecturer Dr. Monika Herzig. It focuses on Baker’s life from his childhood at Crispus Attucks High School in Indianapolis to his present post as an IU faculty member and composer.

“I just realized that, being so close to him all the time, that somebody should write this down,” Herzig said. “So when I asked him, we realized nobody’s keeping track.”

Baker, who was not particularly “gung-ho” about a book being written about him, said he believed if it was going to be done, Herzig was the right person for the job.

“I knew that (Herzig) was the one to do it,” Baker said. “I was thrilled. I tried not to show the thrill because I’m not willing to wear a badge that says, ‘Hey, I can do something.’ But I can’t think of anyone else I would have wanted to work with other than Monika.”

Baker and Herzig have a special and long-lasting relationship that stems from Germany, where Herzig was born and raised until she came to the United States.

Baker, along with jazz legends Jamey Aebersold and Jerry Coker, known as the “ABC’s of Jazz”, made jazz education more accessible by writing books and creating play-along tracks for students to practice music outside the classroom.

In addition, the three started summer workshops in areas ranging from parts of the U.S. to Europe, including Germany. Herzig saw Baker and the others perform live at a workshop when she had first started learning about jazz.

After finishing her undergraduate at the University of Alabama, Herzig decided on IU for her doctoral, in part because of Baker and the incorporation of jazz.

“I took all the classes I could take (with Baker) and also got to do private lessons with him, and I learned so much,” Herzig said. “A lot of people are drawn to him, as I was, by his openness and willingness to share with anyone.”

Today, Baker and Herzig are still very close, as they are both artists and professors
at IU.

Herzig’s husband, a music copier, is Baker’s publisher, so Baker is usually at their house and telling stories.

When writing the book, Herzig communicated a lot with Baker’s wife, Lida, as Baker did not want any part in the book because he did not want to influence Herzig in any way.

“The hardest part for me was the organization because there is just too much information,” Herzig said. “I tried to cover all eras and all facets and found them. It was fascinating. But whenever I asked for the contact info for someone, he would always give it to me and help me set up a meeting.”

Herzig said the entire experience was rewarding, as she got to write about one of her mentors.

“When I gave the book to him, it was a really special moment. He was like, ‘How did you find all these people?’ It was just really great.”

A book launch concert and signing for “David Baker: A Legacy in Music” will take place at 6 p.m. Nov. 6 at KFC Catering, 216 S. College Ave. in Bloomington. It will feature many musicians, including Herzig.