Scott Baker & The Universal Expressions profile picture

Scott Baker & The Universal Expressions

Nov. 30, Masonic Temple, BC Record Release Party!

About Me

Scott Baker & The Universal Expressions
Hailing from Mid-Michigan, musician Scott Baker takes from life's experiences and evolves them into his own individual rooted soundscape. Solo acoustic or electric with band, there is no end to his musical script. Equal parts of both roots rock music from the '60s and '70s rubbed together with shimmering bits of electric blues and improv jazz. Writing originals from a largely folk-singer/songwriter background, performed live with a '80s & '90s underground feel, there are no boundaries. Guitarist, vocalist, saxophonist, songwriter, he also is a member of the Mid-Michigan Songwriters Guild. Scott Baker & The Universal Expressions features drummer Timmy Scott, bassist/backing vocalist Pete Socha, and guitarist/keyboardist/vocalist John Grundner (ex-Beertones). The band splits half their evening with original music and the other half covers, featuring tunes by the likes of The Band, John Hiatt, Tom Petty, The Allman Brothers, Peter Green, Crosby-Stills-Nash, Neil Young, Norah Jones, Van Morrison, CCR, etc. Scott also plays solo acoustic shows on a regular basis.
For six years (1999-2005) & helping lead the way for a new style of original music in the Tri-cities area, venues bent the rules, allowing more room for originality with his group Muddy Gumbo. The band broke through the flood gates with like-minded jam/groove based groups in the area helping capture the spirit of fans with new styles and ways of expressing the homegrown musical sound. The band released Continuous Rotation in Dec. 2001 and “Capture The Moment” (EP) in the Fall 2003. Scott & Earl 'The Squirrel' (percussionist) released the Muddy Gumbo Duo EP 'Swampuccino' in fall 2004 as a limited live release of the two-piece acoustic setting.
Baker has been the recipient of a handful of Review Awards since 2002, including 2005's Blues Artist Deserving Wider Recognition. He was nominated again for Blues Songwriter of The Year for the 2006 Review Awards. Along with the Universal Expressions, the group was nominated for 11 awards in 2007. The Universal Expressions won Band of the Year and Band Deserving Wider Recognition in the blues rock category in 2007. Both John Grundner and Timmy Scott are former Review Award winners, outside of the Universal Expressions as well.
Baker originally went solo with The S.N.A.P. Revue (Savvy Northern Acoustic Players), highlighting original music from six local artists in 2003. He also worked with S.N.A.P. cohort Jeff Yantz in The One Trick Ponies, yielding the CD Landmark (Bull Frog Records, '03). Baker played mandolin on the track “Dreamer 29”. A demo of the song “Northern Space” was included on Suite 19, by the Mid-Michigan Songwriters Guild, adding another feather to Baker’s cap in 2003. He was added as guitarist/vocalist backing national folk artist Jen Cass for a show in spring 2006.
With Gumbo coming to a halt in February of 2005, Baker played solo acoustic shows over a year each week in Bay City, MI, from Feb. 2005, until May 2006. He continues to move forward with his music with a new solo CD, Between Seasons, due in November of 2007. He has shared the stage with Larry McCray, Creedence Clearwater Revisited, Dick Wagner (Alice Cooper/Lou Reed), Adam Levy (Norah Jones), Frank Bang (Buddy Guy), Blackberry Smoke, Wally Pleasant, Chris Buhalis, Jeff Talmadge, Too Slim & The Taildraggers, Jamie Sue Seal, Jen Cass, recorded with the Northwoods Improvisers, all either as a solo artist or electric with band. Scott also has the unique honor of opening the very first Hells Half Mile Film + Music Festival in 2006 and closing the festival in 2007, both as a solo act.
©2007
Scott Baker : DISCOGRAPHY
Nov. 2001 Continuous Rotation--CD Sampler (Muddy Gumbo)
Dec. 2001 Continuous Rotation (Muddy Gumbo)
(WMG Records)
Jan. 2003 appears on Landmark (guest of One Trick Ponies)
(Bull Frog Records)
Mar. 2003 Suite 19 (w/ Mid-MI Songwriters Guild)
Aug. 2003 “Capture The Moment”–EP (Muddy Gumbo)
July 2007 appears on Box Of Pandora (guest of Cary Ewing)
Nov. 2007 Between Seasons (Scott Baker & the Universal Expressions)

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 8/18/2005
Band Website: scottbakermusic.com
Band Members: Scott Baker
--Vocals/guitars/sax/songwriting
Timmy Scott
--drums
Pete Socha
--bassist/backing vocals
John Grundner
--keyboards/guitar/vocals

Influences: Too many to even think, but if you start with the blues and jazz greats and work your way through some of the classic rock and jam bands, throw in a little of folk, you'd get the idea.
Sounds Like: When The Black Crowes hung out with Neil Young at an Allman Brother's show, swapping ideas about Gov't Mule, Phish, George Harrison and Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac, while they listened to David Gilmour do Pink Floyd tunes on his acoustic opening the night. Then Steve Winwood joined them for conversation about artistry and history of all the music they've been involved with and most importantly, where they are all headed and the importance of songwriting... While over in the corner, a mellow Ryan Adams was keeping to himself, whistling Albert King songs with Frank Zappa blaring on his I-POD... Sounds like all that...
Record Label: None
Type of Label: None

My Blog

New Songs Up, New CD, Cancelled Solo Show

   Here are some MP3's to check out. While Myspace won't let me post some music over 5 minutes, I have chosen a chunk to put up that you can taste for now. Between Seasons is now available a...
Posted by Scott Baker & The Universal Expressions on Tue, 20 Nov 2007 09:41:00 PST

Between Seasons Track List and Acoustic Venue Update

Between Seasons is in the works. I should have it here the second week of Nov. (around the 8th or so). The track listing is as follows for the new album:01. Swingin' Breeze    &nbs...
Posted by Scott Baker & The Universal Expressions on Tue, 16 Oct 2007 03:53:00 PST

Off the hook at Whites---and another reunion jam!

   When you go play White's Bar, you know you are in front of people who want music. Last Friday was incredible, crowd, place, attitude, jams...etc.   Brother Jeff Yantz hit the st...
Posted by Scott Baker & The Universal Expressions on Wed, 10 Oct 2007 03:02:00 PST

The past few weeks...whew!

  Not everyday do you find new paths to take...of friends to follow!  We've been fortuneate to have been found by a few like-minded promoters/bands/individuals that have all been offering us...
Posted by Scott Baker & The Universal Expressions on Tue, 02 Oct 2007 09:19:00 PST

**BAD VENUE--GREEN TURTLE--Prescot, MI**

To anyone that has seen our schedule--please take notice that we have a venue that has decided to pull the plug on all the music. Sam, the owner of Green Turtle on 33 in Prescot has yanked all the liv...
Posted by Scott Baker & The Universal Expressions on Tue, 11 Sep 2007 04:24:00 PST

Between Seasons wrap up! New Songs Profiled!

   It's near the very end of the road. My first real release in about five years. Between Seasons comes to an end in the studio in the next weekend or so.    I want to get to as ma...
Posted by Scott Baker & The Universal Expressions on Thu, 06 Sep 2007 03:02:00 PST

New CD(s)

   Just a heads up on a few local releases and an update on mine.   Cary Ewing has a new CD out (Box Of Pandora). I was very fortuneate to perform on the album (the track Deluge). ...
Posted by Scott Baker & The Universal Expressions on Tue, 24 Jul 2007 11:16:00 PST

Cancelled dates!!!!! WE need gigs!

I am just posting this to let everyone know, due to circumstances beyond our control (and the wonderful world of music business!) we have been cancelled on the following dates:June 30--Private Part...
Posted by Scott Baker & The Universal Expressions on Sat, 30 Jun 2007 05:14:00 PST

Between Seasons wrapping up!

Hey all --         Quick note here to let you know that we are in the process of mixing the album right now. I brought home three test mixes from Saturday's se...
Posted by Scott Baker & The Universal Expressions on Wed, 20 Jun 2007 08:41:00 PST

The week of Tuesday May 1-Tuesday May 8--holy guacamole!

  Sometimes it doesn't occur to you what you are getting into, especially when music is everything surrounding your home life and regular existance.  So I spouted a few months ago about my n...
Posted by Scott Baker & The Universal Expressions on Tue, 08 May 2007 03:44:00 PST