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Seattle Spotlight: Bake's Place
By Patrice Raplee
Bake's Place Jazz and Blues Society, enveloped by evergreens and the pungent aroma of fresh cedar, is not only an innovative venue, but a musician's dream gig.
Two and-a-half
years ago, Redmond, Wash. entrepreneur Craig Baker turned the bottom half
of his au courant home into a special events site and private jazz club.
Initially, Baker created the venue so that businessmen could host cocktail
hors d'oeuvre parties and presentations for their out-of-town clients.
Eventually, the jazz club burgeoned and with it, limited overnight accommodations
and an outside performance stage.
Baker
has truly fashioned a club that is appealing for members and artists.
The inside facility (smoke-free) is tastefully arranged by means of deep
maroon walls accented with black and white photographs of famous jazz
and blues musicians. Mosaic tile-top tables are aglow in candlelight and
their coffee counterparts are festooned with various jazz and music books.
A beautiful
Yamaha baby grand piano sits poised in the center room that seats about
50. The outside patio seats 150 and is equally impressive with its covered
seating and stage area surrounded by a tranquil forest setting. The stage
lights are professional and sound system would make even finicky artists
happy.
This
intimate setting is advantageous for the rapport between aficionado and
musician allowing an unobstructed and very live performance. Year round,
Bake's Place presents exceptional local and national musicians, from the
exhilarating swing era sound of Lily Wilde and her Swingin' Boyfriends
to the divine renditions of the Greta Matassa Quartet.
Of course an atmosphere that is perfect for excellent music is also good cause for superb cuisine. Luscious catered dinners accompany almost all of the performances and can be purchased with your ticket before scheduled performances.
Bake's Place Special Events Club offers many other benefits to members; with the member roster at 600 and growing, it's obvious that this kind of venue is rapidly gaining in popularity.
Although Baker plans
to keep his family-owned-and-operated club at its current size, he does
plan to expand the number of shows in the next year. He also has a company
named Real Time Productions; it is an off-site production facility that
caters food, music sound and stage equipment. Baker is quite the busy
gentleman, but he keeps a vigilant eye on his enterprises, and manages
to remain one of the most affable men in the business. His jazz and blues
society's maxim is: "Our focus is presenting music in an atmosphere
created to evoke a unique connection between the artist and the audience,
resulting in memorable moments of creativity." And indeed it does
Mr. Baker, bravo!
For more information, call Bake's Special Events Club at 425-898-0311.