Ginger Baker – At His Best

Ginger Baker – At His Best

Originally released in 1972, At His Best is a fascinating double-album retrospective celebrating the work of legendary drummer Ginger Baker, bringing together recordings from his time with Blind Faith and Ginger Baker's Air Force. Rather than focusing solely on his celebrated career with Cream, this compilation explores a more adventurous period of Baker's musical journey, showcasing his interest in jazz, blues, progressive rock and African-influenced rhythms.

Widely recognised as one of rock music's most influential drummers, Baker developed a distinctive playing style characterised by powerful rhythms, inventive polyrhythms and an approach to percussion that drew inspiration from African music and jazz. Following the dissolution of Cream in 1968, he became a founding member of Blind Faith, the short-lived but highly influential supergroup featuring Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood and bassist Ric Grech. He subsequently formed Ginger Baker's Air Force, an ambitious ensemble that brought together musicians from rock, jazz and African musical traditions.

At His Best draws on these projects to present an intriguing selection of recordings from 1969 and 1970. The Blind Faith material includes Had To Cry Today, Do What You Like, Well All Right and Can't Find My Way Home, featuring the remarkable musical partnership between Baker, Clapton, Winwood and Grech. These tracks demonstrate the group's combination of blues-rock, extended instrumental passages and sophisticated musicianship, with Baker's drumming providing much of the rhythmic drive.

The Ginger Baker's Air Force selections offer a different musical perspective. Let Me Ride, I Don't Want To Go On Without You and Sweet Wine come from the group's second album, while Da Da Man and Aiko Biaye originate from their self-titled debut. The latter recordings reveal Baker's growing fascination with African rhythms, percussion ensembles and extended improvisation.

Among the album's most compelling moments is Do What You Like, an expansive 15-minute composition written by Baker and originally recorded by Blind Faith. Its extended instrumental sections provide plenty of room for the musicians to explore their individual styles, making it an excellent showcase for the group's improvisational abilities. At the other end of the spectrum, Can't Find My Way Home offers a more delicate and melodic performance, beautifully contrasting with the heavier material.

The two Ginger Baker's Air Force recordings Da Da Man and Aiko Biaye are particularly interesting, both recorded live at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Their extended arrangements and adventurous rhythmic structures capture the ensemble's eclectic musical personality and Baker's enthusiasm for exploring sounds beyond conventional rock.

This double LP provides an excellent overview of a fascinating chapter in Ginger Baker's career, documenting his transition from the blues-rock foundations of Cream towards a more experimental musical world. It is an especially rewarding collection for fans of Blind Faith, progressive rock, jazz-rock, exploratory percussion and the early fusion of African musical influences with British rock.

A compelling addition to any collection of classic rock and progressive music, At His Best offers an opportunity to explore Ginger Baker's remarkable musicianship across two important musical projects.

Tracklist

Side A

1. Let Me Ride – 4:22

2. Had To Cry Today – 8:43

3. I Don't Want To Go On Without You – 3:56

Side B

1. Do What You Like – 15:21

Side C

1. Da Da Man – 7:12

2. Sweet Wine – 3:34

3. Well All Right – 4:28

Side D

1. Can't Find My Way Home – 3:13

2. Aiko Biaye – 12:58