Chas Baker is Associate Professor of Jazz Studies at Kent State University and has directed Jazz Ensembles since 1977.
His professional background includes experience as trombone soloist with the Austrian Radio and Television Network Big Band in Vienna, Austria. In 1968-'69 as a U.S. Army bands man, he was trombone soloist with the 1st Air Cavalry Division Band, Viet Nam.
Since returning from abroad he has been an active player in the Cleveland area, performing with the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, at The Cleveland Bop Stop, and for Cleveland Playhouse Square productions, playing for such artists as Tony Bennett, Sarah Vaughan, Terry Gibbs and David Sanborn.
Mr. Baker has written jazz compositions and arrangements for The Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, The Jazz Unit, Kent Jazz Ensembles, and area high school jazz bands. He is active as clinician, soloist and adjudicator in public schools and colleges throughout Northeastern Ohio. He has directed the OMEA All State High School Jazz Band and the IAJE/OMEA All State Collegiate Jazz Band.
In addition to conducting Jazz Ensembles at Kent, his duties include teaching courses in Jazz History, Jazz Improvisation, Composing and Arranging, and MIDI technology.
In 1997 he was awarded the Distinguished Teaching Award by the Kent State University Alumni Association and the Kent State University Foundation.
He received his B.A. and M.M. degrees from Kent State University and graduated from the U.S. Army/Navy School of Music at Norfolk, Virginia.