Harold “Shorty” Baker was a gentle, mellow musician with a lyrical style that was the modern Arthur Whetsol of the Duke Ellington Orchestra. Baker started out as a drummer and switched to trumpet when he was a teenager. Baker was a fine section player and warm soloist. He played on riverboats with Fate Marable, Don Redman, Erskine Tate and Don Redman (1936-1938), Teddy Wilson’s orchestra (1939-1940) and Andy Kirk (1940-1942). Mary Lou Williams, Kirk’s pianist at that time, married him. Baker played with Duke Ellington’s Orchestra from 1942-1962, particularly 1943-1951 and 1956-1959. He was a prominent trumpet player, despite playing in a section that included Ray Nance and Clark Terry, Willie Cook and Cat Anderson. In the early 1950s, he was part of Johnny Hodges’ band. After the Ellington years, he primarily led a quartet. Baker recorded later with Doc Cheatham and Bud Freeman. Allmusic
