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Tracks
1. The Resurrection and the Life 5:10
2. It's your Kindness 5:42
3. Through the Valley 3:50
4. There is Hope 3:33
5. Carillon for the Children of Eritrea 3:57
6. Justice for all Nations 4:05
7. Song for Judy 4:39
8. With Outstretched Hands 4:37
9. Eternity Starts Here 3:21
10. The Dove Descending 4:30
11. Wait for the Lord 5:22
12. Take my Hands 3:10
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All tracks composed by Rob Baker, except for 'It's your Kindness,' written by Paul Heatley and Rob Baker. Recorded on the Steinway grand piano at SRT Studios, St Ives, Cambridge on 11th April 2003.
All Compitions © Rob Baker 2003.
Cover photos by Lucy Ward.
Duplication by CDSourcing.com.
Artwork by Ade Jones at CDSourcing
£5.00 from the sale of every copy of 'Take my Hands' will be donated to World Vision, a Christian Charity which helps over 75 million people across 6 continents, in projects of relief, development and rehabilitation.
For further copies, concert bookings or any other information, please visit: www.robbaker.org
ROB BAKER TRAVELS ON!
Born in Peterborough in Cambidgeshire, England in February 1971, Rob Baker was the son of a Baptist Minister. Because of this, the Family often moved house during Rob’s childhood, living in York, Mid-Wales, Lancashire and Boston, Lincolnshire. Rob’s parents were both quite musical, Dad playing piano and Mum guitar, so he was surrounded by music both at home and at church. That said, he had no music lessons whatsoever as a young child, and no formal piano lessons until nearly sixteen years of age!
Rob’s mother taught him a number of guitar chords when he was nine, and shortly after he got the idea of trying to play the chords on the piano. Rob recalls, “I can't remember quite what lead me to do this, or where I got the idea from, but it worked! I would go through the chorus books of the time (Sound of Living Waters, Fresh Sounds, Jesus Praise) and would play through the chords. A member of our church in Accrington, Marcus Green, played the piano in a similar way, but was a few years older and much more accomplished. I would watch him play and aspire to be as able as him on the piano. As I watched, I would attempt to copy his techniques and he would give me tips and ideas for playing.”
CELEBRATION TIMES
Rob first played in the Boston Baptist church at the age of 12. Initially just for a couple of choruses a week, then later for whole services. He played with various music groups in the area, and at several of the smaller churches in the villages surrounding Boston. “Many members of these churches would come up and congratulate me on my playing, and encourage me to continue. I guess it was because I was still pretty young to be playing that well, and all without using written music. We would have monthly 'celebration' meetings at Centenary Methodist Church, and I would play the keyboard with a small band. Later on, there were inter-church youth gatherings in the town, and I was asked to organize the music for these. We would get quite a large group together, sometimes as many as 15 players.”
At the age of 16, he began studying A Level music at the Sam Newsom Music Centre in Boston, an old riverside warehouse converted into a fabulous music department for Boston College. Here he learnt much about music theory, history and continued working on his instrumental skills. Incredibly, this was the first time he really learnt to read music. He always played by ear and was accepted on the A Level course on the basis of a piano piece that he learnt from listening to a Dino record! It was also during these two years that he first began composing music, which hereally loved and found relatively easy.
TIRING BUT FUN
Having obtained A Levels in Music, French and German, Rob embarked upon a BA Honours course at the University College of Ripon and York St John. Whilst based in Ripon, he also had some lectures at the York campus of the college. Here he continued to play the piano at the 40 strong college Christian Union as well as at local churches, and became cocktail pianist at the Old Deanery Restaurant, which he said was particularly worthwhile for the free meals! In his final year, he was pianist for the college swing-band 'All that Jazz,' and also did a sponsored 24 hour piano play for the college rag week - very tiring, but great fun!
The third year of his degree was spent in La Réunion, a tropical island in the Indian Ocean, between Madagascar and Mauritius. “This was a very exciting and interesting year, allowing me to experience tropical life, to climb a 10,000ft mountain, to perfect my French and to develop my musicianship. I studied jazz at the local Conservatoire, played piano at an evangelical church in the capital and had piano lessons from Frederic Bernachon, who was, undoubtably, the best piano teacher I ever had. I also became 'au fait' with the traditional music of La Réunion, the 'Sega' and the 'Maloya,' both of which have very distinctive and infectios rhythms. This undoubtedly had an effect upon my piano style.”
OTHERS BENEFIT
Rob became a Christian at about the age of 12. “I say 'about,' as I was brought up in a Christian home, always knowing Bible stories and the truth of the gospel, so there was no obvious 'road to Damascus' experience for me. That said, God has no grandchildren, so I had to come to the point of accepting Christ as my own personal Saviour. It is clear to me that God is real. His creation is all around us, and the teachings of Christ are so awesome when you read them, that it is clear he was more than just a great man. This is why I want my music to have a Christian 'stamp' upon it. I wouldn't be playing the way I do were it not for God's goodness to me and, in a way, the CD is a way of thanking God for his gift of music to me. I also want others to benefit from the music, and to be blessed as they listen to it.”
Rob is based in Ampthill, Bedfordshire England which is his wife, Lois’ hometown. They met whilst teaching missionaries' children in the Ivory Coast, West Africa and got married when they returned to England. In 2003 they have three children, Madelaine (5), Ruth (4) and Micah (2), who are great fun and keep them busy! Rob is also greatly involved in the musical life of his local Baptist Church, playing for services weekly and for other meetings and occasions, such as Alpha Course meals. He also teaches music at a nearby middle school. Rob says that those who know him also enjoy his piano music and his recordings. For the future, he hopes to be able to 'branch out' and broaden the range of people who listen to his music.
PAUL DAVIS
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