Drum Master Kofi Baker tapped the musical legacy created by his father when forming his latest project, Kofi Baker’s Cream Experience. Kofi’s father Ginger Baker was the drumming force behind the legendary bands Cream and Blind Faith. After a trip to see his Dad play Madison Square Garden NYC during Cream’s 2005 reunion, Kofi decided a tribute project was in order. Taught by his father at an early age and having toured Europe with Steve Marriott (Humble Pie) and Jack Bruce (Cream bassist, vocalist), Kofi used first hand experience and the influence of his godfather Eric Clapton, to assemble a band that re-ignites such classic songs as White Room, Crossroads, Sunshine Of Your Love, I’m So Glad, and Badge, among others. Audiences have been blown away by Kofi’s tribute and the band’s ability to evoke the sound and spirit of the era, with a contemporary and spontaneous twist.
On board with Kofi is guitarist-singer Fran Banish, who has done stage and session work with Keb Mo, Rami Jaffe of The Wallflowers and The Foo Fighters, Dan Lavery of Tonic and The Fray, and Duncan Sheik. While touring with The Keb Mo Band, double bills included Taj Mahal and Robert Cray, and opening shows for Herbie Hancockat The Hollywood Bowl and at The San Javier Jazz Festival. Fran played lead guitar and co-wrote on Duncan Sheik’s Gold debut album and you can also hear his playing on multi-Grammy winning contemporary bluesman Keb Mo’s Epic release, “Suitcase.”
Bass wizard Dennis Keith Johnson has performed and/or recorded with bands and artists such as: Chase (Epic Records), Survivor (Scotti Brothers Records), Software (Head First Records), Dennis DeYoung (A & M Records), Jerry Butler (Motown Records), Jim Peterick (Epic Records), Bruce Bolin, Cottonwood South, Larry Carlton, Paul Wertico, B.B. King, and Sweetening, and at venues that include the Tonight Show, Newport Jazz Festival, Carnegie Hall, Hollywood Bowl, Budokan (Tokyo), Chicagofest, Summerfest (Milwaukee), Holiday Star Theater, Liberty Hall (Philadelphia), Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Radio City Music Hall & more.
