Baker celebrates 80th birthday, President’s Medal for Excellence

IU jazz legend David Baker received a late birthday present from IU President Michael McRobbie Saturday — the President’s Medal for Excellence.

“David, in recognition of all you have done for this University and for your many contributions to the arts, it is my great pleasure to present you with the highest honor a president can bestow, the President’s Medal for Excellence,” McRobbie said.

The crowd roared as McRobbie made his way to Baker, who was sitting in the crowd, and placed the medal around his neck. A stunned Baker raised his arm to the crowd and smiled before bowing and returning to his seat.

A number of people braved the frigid air and ice-coated roads to celebrate the 80th birthday of one of IU’s most distinguished professors of music.

Baker, a virtuoso performer on multiple instruments and top in his field in several disciplines, has taught and performed throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Japan, yet he has chosen to make his home here in Bloomington.

After 45 years of teaching at the IU Jacobs School of Music, Baker was honored as numerous faculty members and alumni put together a show.

The show included guest speakers, video greetings and jazz bands in the school of music playing Baker’s own compositions.

Tom Walsh, one of the main coordinators of the event, as well as an associate professor of saxophone and jazz Studies in the Jacobs School of Music, made the introductory speech at Baker’s birthday celebration.

“We started celebrating David’s birthday sometime back in November,” Walsh said. “David’s actual birthday wasn’t until Dec. 21, so one day David looked at me and said ‘Tom, I’m not even 80 yet and I’m already tired of being 80.’”

The night was filled with laughter as Baker’s colleagues and former students told stories about the time they had spent with Baker.

“I’ve had a number of different experiences with David Baker,” said internationally known saxophonist, jazz educator and lifelong friend of Baker, Jamey Aebersold. “One of the most memorable experiences, though, is when we went on a trip out of country. We were put into this dormitory and when we went in to get set up, David came running out of the room saying ‘There’s roaches in my room!’ That night, David spent the night in the Hilton while we all slept in the cold with our clothes on and the roaches under our feet.”

During the event, the Jacobs School of Music also announced it had established the David N. Baker Jazz Scholarship in recognition of his contributions to the world of jazz.

Deputy Mayor Maria Heslin came to present a speech by Mayor Mark Kruzan, who could not make it to the event.

“It is such an honor to be here to recognize David Baker,” Hesslin said. “We are truly honored that he has chosen Bloomington to be his home. Whereas David Baker has left innumerable impressions on this city and has changed the lives of so many, I, Mayor Mark Kruzan, do hereby proclaim this day, Jan. 21, as David Baker Day in the city of Bloomington, Indiana.”

Once again, the crowd rose to their feet in applause.

Another gift Baker received was the dedication of a renovated house in the Arts and Entertainment District of Bloomington, formally known as the Baker Place Guest House.

Ron and Liz Stanhouse dedicated the house to Baker in honor of the musical inspiration Baker is to their daughters.

“David, we just wanted to let you know how much you and your family mean to us,” Ron Stanhouse said. “We also want to present you with this piece of artwork by Joel Washington, which is the centerpiece of the Baker Place Guest House.”

Bloomington artist Joel Washington then came out to present Baker with a vivid painting of Baker doing what he loves, playing jazz.

The final gift David received that evening was a bowl from Tiffany’s and a bag of peanut brittle on behalf of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz.

The night continued with more stories about Baker and musical pieces such as “Screamin Meemies” and “Terrible T,” both written by Baker himself.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, everybody in the crowd rose to their feet and joined the IU Jazz Ensemble in singing “Happy Birthday” to the musical inspiration David Baker, who will forever remain, as McRobbie said, a “cool cat and one of the greatest professors to ever teach at Indiana University.”