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matthew reed baker 🤘😇🤘

@matthewreedbaker.bsky.social

990 followers 220 following 1.1K posts

Writer, editor, Boston Magazine contributor, arts'n'music maven, photography amateur, Liverpool FC fan, mediocre pianist, husband, dad...but not in that order

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matthew reed baker 🤘😇🤘 @matthewreedbaker.bsky.social · Feb 10

Today I received preview copies of my new book, "1970s Jazz Fusion"! It's a joyous overview of brilliant artists who made some of the most creative, cosmic & funky music, written for both big fans & the curious, out 5/1/2025. I can't wait for everyone to read it!
www.bloomsbury.com/us/1970s-jaz...

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matthew reed baker 🤘😇🤘 @matthewreedbaker.bsky.social · 4d

Oh yeah, it's just so good. My favorite Ramones album, frankly. I feel like they perfected their songs and their sound here!
cheers---mrb
🤘😇🤘

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matthew reed baker 🤘😇🤘 @matthewreedbaker.bsky.social · 4d

Rockaway Beach 4eva!
cheers---mrb
🤘😇🤘

matthew reed baker 🤘😇🤘 @matthewreedbaker.bsky.social · 4d

Now spinning at my house, as I've read too many thinkpieces about pop stars & diss tracks this week:

Rocket To Russia (1977) by Ramones...I love reading about pop stars & diss tracks, but eventually I just want a big ½ hour blast of classic punk with fast loud guitars paired with awesome hooks!

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matthew reed baker 🤘😇🤘 @matthewreedbaker.bsky.social · 4d

wrong way out
cambridge massachusetts
tues 7 oct 2025

matthew reed baker 🤘😇🤘 @matthewreedbaker.bsky.social · 5d

Yes, it's way safer and saner than I expected. I will say, though, I was hoping for a big massive electronic party record with beats and bass and synthesizers that would blow my speakers out...maybe that'll be the next record!

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matthew reed baker 🤘😇🤘 @matthewreedbaker.bsky.social · 5d

Yes, my daughter and I listened to it together. Frankly, neither of us have ever cared too much who exactly she sings about, the lyrics either work or don't. Here there are some that could have used some rethinking, but we just really liked listening to it, and it's better when you replay it.

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matthew reed baker 🤘😇🤘 @matthewreedbaker.bsky.social · 5d

Now spinning at my house, even if the Internet wants me to hate it:

The Life Of A Showgirl (2025) by Taylor Swift...a 5-star record? a toxic disaster? Neither. The lyrics are an uneasy mix of goofy & nasty; the melodies are solid; her voice is great. It's far from her best, but hey I'm enjoying it.

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matthew reed baker 🤘😇🤘 @matthewreedbaker.bsky.social · 5d

Purple Line polyptych.
Concord to Cambridge, Massachusetts.
914am train, Mon 6 Oct 2025

matthew reed baker 🤘😇🤘 @matthewreedbaker.bsky.social · 5d

Tonight's drive: Maine to Boston.
Soundtrack: Grocery Store Sunset (2024) by Tupperwave.
This is one of my son's favorite albums, with its weird & woozy vaporwave mix of electronics, jazz fusion & cough-syrup yacht rock. The western skies obliged with their peach glow, as my son took these photos.

matthew reed baker 🤘😇🤘 @matthewreedbaker.bsky.social · 6d

The chairlift from the mountain to the sea.
Camden Snow Bowl, Camden, Maine.
1251pm Sun 5 Oct 2025

matthew reed baker 🤘😇🤘 @matthewreedbaker.bsky.social · 7d

I follow him on Insta, and he's always going to shows, meeting famous people, and they are excited to meet him too (despite Eilish's trademark resting face here). I don't think it's a current photo, I also don't think it's fake. But regardless, it gave me a chuckle today. Now let's crush Chelsea!

matthew reed baker 🤘😇🤘 @matthewreedbaker.bsky.social · 7d

This photo came across my socials today and I know nothing about its origins...that being said, it's a nicely random way to start an LFC Match Day with a serendipitous photo of Jürgen Klopp and Billie Eilish. Go Reds! #LIVCHE #LiverpoolFC #YNWA

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matthew reed baker 🤘😇🤘 @matthewreedbaker.bsky.social · 8d

Now spinning at my house, as it's Free-jazz Friday!

Albert Ayler In Greenwich Village (1967) by Albert Ayler, wherein the deepest spiritual beauty emerges from the most vibrant sonic chaos...in college, I'd go to the music library & listen to this on rainy nights, so glad to have my own copy now

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matthew reed baker 🤘😇🤘 @matthewreedbaker.bsky.social · 9d

Today's drive: New Haven to Boston.
Soundtrack: Saturnz Return (1998) by Goldie.
A 2½-hour magnum opus, the first half ambient symphonies, the second half drum'n'bass with jazz, soul, noise. Guests include David Bowie, Noel Gallagher, KRS-One. It's long been one of my favorite electronic albums.

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matthew reed baker 🤘😇🤘 @matthewreedbaker.bsky.social · 11d

Now spinning at my house, badass tunes to help me meet a tight work deadline:

Future Shock (1983), Sound-System (1984), Perfect Machine (1988) by Herbie Hancock, a trio of albums with bass legend Bill Laswell...they're a killer mashup of jazz, hiphop, electrofunk, soul and Gambian folk too
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matthew reed baker 🤘😇🤘 @matthewreedbaker.bsky.social · 12d

Now spinning at my house, a perfect start to the workweek from The Hardest-Working Man In Show Business:

Live At The Apollo (recorded 24 October 1962) by James Brown, wherein The Godfather Of Soul blazes through 15 hot tunes in barely more than a ½ hour...this glorious LP is a musical staff of life

matthew reed baker 🤘😇🤘 @matthewreedbaker.bsky.social · 15d

Now spinning at my house, thank god it's Friday:

Risqué (1979) by Chic...the 3rd album of sleek funk and lush soul by these brilliant musicians producers songwriters...this one has the 8-minute "Good Times" as the lead-off track, one of the best singles of the 1970s, with the greatest bassline ever

matthew reed baker 🤘😇🤘 @matthewreedbaker.bsky.social · 16d

Now spinning at my house, a disco cure for a rainy day:

Atmosphere Strut (1976) by Cloud One, a classic from legendary producer Patrick Adams...melodic dance-funk, with spacey vocals & a dreamy mood...the title track sounds like a Stereolab/Chic collab with Rick Wakeman on synths, and it's luscious

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matthew reed baker 🤘😇🤘 @matthewreedbaker.bsky.social · 18d

Now spinning at my house, as it would've been his 99th birthday today:

Africa/Brass (1961) by The John Coltrane Quartet...his first release on the then-new Impulse! label, this gorgeous three-track release features Trane & his classic quartet backed by a lush superstar horn orchestra...so sublime

matthew reed baker 🤘😇🤘 @matthewreedbaker.bsky.social · 22d

Now spinning at my house, perfect Friday bangers:

Funkentelechy vs. The Placebo Syndrome (1977) by Parliament...this sci-fi thumpathon by George Clinton & the P-Funk crew was the album that got me into funk as a kid...last month I finally found a copy with the original poster and comic book, boom!

matthew reed baker 🤘😇🤘 @matthewreedbaker.bsky.social · Sep 10

Hello all!

It's been a while since I posted one of these piano improvisations. I played this one this morning, and it's simple and open. It's called "Acceptance."

You can watch it here on YouTube, along with the others...thanks and enjoy!

youtu.be/SIK7sCX-VR4?...

"Acceptance, a piano improvisation." (2 min., 32 sec.)

YouTube video by Matthew Reed Baker

youtu.be

matthew reed baker 🤘😇🤘 @matthewreedbaker.bsky.social · Sep 10

voice // dua lipa
td garden, boston, massachusetts
932pm tues 9 sept 2025

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matthew reed baker 🤘😇🤘 @matthewreedbaker.bsky.social · Sep 10

archangel // dua lipa
td garden, boston, massachusetts
1013pm tues 9 sept 2025

matthew reed baker 🤘😇🤘 @matthewreedbaker.bsky.social · Sep 10

hearts // dua lipa
td garden, boston, massachusetts
857pm tues 9 sept 2025

matthew reed baker 🤘😇🤘 @matthewreedbaker.bsky.social · Sep 9

Now spinning at my house, because my daughter and I are seeing her in concert tonight...welcome to Boston, Dua Lipa!

Live From The Royal Albert Hall (2024), 80 minutes of the most opulent pop, performed by this stellar chanteuse with a full orchestra, a choir, a killer band, and Elton John...wow!