Quentin E. Baxter
Quentin E. Baxter, a native of Charleston, SC, comes from a family of drummers with his mother leading the troupe. “I’m unable to recall a moment void of having drums either at home or church.” Educated in the public schools of Charleston County and graduate of the College of Charleston (Bachelor of Arts – Music Theory & Composition), Baxter cultivated his musical talents under “the wings” of regional legends/mentors Robert Ephraim, Oscar Rivers, Jr, Lonnie Hamilton III, George Kenney, Dr. David Maves, Teddy Adams, and Delbert Felix.
Currently touring world-wide with Award-winning, Grammy-nominated vocalist and composer René Marie and newly formed Gullah sensation Ranky Tanky, Baxter regularly performs many of the most prestigious venues and festivals, i.e., The Kennedy Center (Washington, D.C.), Jazz at Lincoln Center (New York), SFJazz (San Francisco, CA), Joy of Jazz Festival (South Africa), Toulouse Jazz Festival (France), Umbria Jazz Festival and Spoleto Festival dei Due Mondi (Italy), and, of course, Spoleto Festival USA (Charleston).
“…the most amazing, exciting, musically dedicated drummer I have ever known.” – René Marie
Baxter’s passion for world-wide performances is paralleled by his dedication to educate, promote, produce, and present world-class artists in his home town. As a testiment, since 1997 he still serves as Adjunct Professor of Jazz Studies at the College of Charleston and formed the production company Baxter Music Enterprises (BME, LLC) in 2004. He also serves as Musical Director of the Charleston Jazz Initiative (CJI), a multi-year research project that explore the jazz history and legacy of African American musicians from Charleston and other places in the Carolinas; founding board member of the Jazz Artists of Charleston (JAC); board member of both the Charleston Symphony Orchestra and Engaging Creative Minds; producer of numerous benefit concerts/auctions for Avery Research Center, Jenkins Orphanage, Halsey Gallery, Spoleto USA, and many other artistic organizations who share the same sentiment to enhance and enrich lives via art and music here in the Lowcountry. From 2012-2015, BME, LLC teamed up with Sermet’s Downtown, LLC to create Charleston’s only “listening room” experience, The Mezz – Charleston Jazz Bar. Baxter is currently in the design/development stages of the Baxter Center for Music Performance, Education, and Production – a stand-alone structure designed and dedicated to the presentation and advancement of live music.
Baxter, an intuitively versitile and well-studied musician, has worked with other great artists including Monty Alexander, Ernest Ranglin, Wycliff Gordon, Fred Wesley & Teddy Adams, Houston Person, and Doug Carn.
Baxter plays and prefers: Bearing Edge Drums (Custom), Sabian HH Cymbals, Gibraltar Hardware and Pedals, Remo Drumheads [Fiberskyn FA3 (batter), Ambassador Snare Side, Ebony Series (bottom/front)], Vic Firth Drumsticks, Brushes, and Mallets.
DISCOGRAPHY
Ranky Tanky – “Ranky Tanky” (Resilience Music Alliance 2017), “Good Time” (Resilience Music Alliance 2019)
René Marie – “Serene Renegade” (MaxJazz, 2004), “Experiment In Truth” (2007), “Voice of My Beautiful Country” (Motema, 2009), “Black Laced Freudian Slip” (Motema, 2010), “I Wanna Be Evil” (Motema, 2013), “Sound of Red” (Motema, 2016) Freddy Cole – “He Was The King” (High Note Records, 2016), “My Mood Is You” (High Note Records, 2018)
Marcus Amaker/Quentin E. Baxter – “The New Foundation” (2014), “Empath” (2018)
Monty Alexander – “Rocksteady” (Telarc, 2004)
Christian Tamburr – “Voyage” (2014)
Charlton Singleton – “Soul Cavern” (Beehive Music, 2013)
Mark Sterbank – “Hymns & Spirituals” (2010), “Hymns & Spirituals 2” (2012), “Dayspring” (2014)
Gradual Lean – TBA (project in post production)
Takana Miyamoto – “Live at Churchill Grounds”
Junko Takeo w/ Takana Miyamoto Trio – “Music for Koto and Jazz Piano Trio” (2005)
Brad Jayne – “Song of Pumpkin Brown” (2006), “Warrior Road” (2015)
John Duckworth/Quentin E. Baxter – “Art Moves Jazz” (2005)
Teddy Adams – “A Message From Savannah” (2003), “Kith’n Kin” (2000)
Robert Lewis & Frank Duvall – “Fearless Jones” (2002), “Swagger” (2000)
Emanon Art Ensemble – “Liberate Your Senses” (BME, 2002), “The Art of Improvisation”, “Duets” (BME, 2001), “Emanon iii-o” (BME, 1999)
PRODUCER CREDITS
Ranky Tanky – “Ranky Tanky” (Resilience Music Alliance 2017), “Good Time” (Resilience Music Alliance 2019)
René Marie – “Experiment In Truth” (2007), “Voice of My Beautiful Country” (Motema, 2009), “I Wanna Be Evil” (Motema, 2013), “Sound of Red” (Motema, 2016)
Marcus Amaker/Quentin E. Baxter – “The New Foundation” (2014), “Empath” (2018)
Charleston Latin-Jazz Collective – “Serious Fun” (2015)
Jeremy Wolf – “Understanding” (2015)
Laura Ball – “Match Girl” (2015), “Creation” – TBA (project in post production)
Andrae Murchison – “In The Spirit” (2014)
Charlton Singleton – “Soul Cavern” (Beehive Music, 2013)
Mark Sterbank – “Hymns & Spirituals” (2010), “Hymns & Spirituals 2” (2012), “Dayspring” (2014)
Gradual Lean – TBA (project in post production)
Brad Jayne – “Song of Pumpkin Brown” (2006), “Warrior Road” (2015)
John Duckworth/Quentin E. Baxter – “Art Moves Jazz” (2005)
Emanon Art Ensemble – “Liberate Your Senses” (BME, 2002), “The Art of Improvisation”, “Duets” (BME, 2001), “Emanon iii-o” (BME, 1999)