Mormon Life - Jenny Oaks Baker tag

Jenny Oaks Baker: Grammy-nominated musician and real-life Cinderella

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 00:05:00 -0700

by SarahJo Ciotti
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: There’s a lot more work that goes into real-life fairy tales than one might think. Jenny Oaks Baker’s fairy tale--winning a Grammy nomination for the first time--is one of diligence and faith as she has striven to make all her wishes come true.

Just like any fairytale princess, Jenny Oaks Baker has worked to achieve her dreams. Although instead of spending hours every day cleaning after evil step-sisters, Baker spends hours practicing the violin; instead of dressing mice in home-made garb, she dresses each note played with passion and technique.

“Any time I’m about to go to a performance and I walk down in one of my gowns, my children gather around and get excited,” said Baker. “It’s fun, but I also have to say, ‘Oh, step back, you’ve got sticky hands.’ So it’s not like the Disney movies where it’s ‘Come around, come around’; it’s not as ideal as it is in the movies. In reality there are dirty faces and sticky hands.”

And instead of having an evil stepmother, Baker credits much of her success to her mother. Baker began playing the violin at age four and practiced every day with her mother until high school, at which point she was practicing three to four hours each day on her own. “Practicing with my mom was such a part of my development as a person as well as musically,” said Baker. Her mother guided her in more than music, praying together before and after performances, quoting scripture, and encouraging Baker to ask for blessings. “My faith was growing as my playing was developing; I’m grateful because it’s so interwoven.”

At age 18, Baker moved from Utah to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to attend Curtis Institute of Music. “I was so freaked out by all the people and the whole city atmosphere,” said Baker. “I was scared out of my mind and so lonely.” At Curtis, Baker began practicing six--sometimes even ten--hours a day. “I just approached it as what I was supposed to do to reach my potential and develop my talents,” said Baker. “I took advantage of the amazing opportunity the Lord had blessed me with. I’m so grateful that I worked so hard. I worked hard my whole life, but I worked my tail off my four years at Curtis.”

Later, at Julliard, Baker continued her rigorous schedule, but other things were now taking more attention. Before Baker moved to work on her master’s of music at The Julliard School in New York City, her mother was diagnosed with cancer.

At Baker’s first Sunday at the Manhattan Singles Ward, she was put in charge of handing out programs before the meeting began. It was then that she first met her prince charming. “Our eyes met and he got out of his seat to get a program, which I thought was a great sign,” said Baker. “I was determined to go sit by him. In order to sit by Matt, I had to climb over one guy, over Matt, and sit straight in the middle of the bench. I’m not very subtle.” Baker found out he was job searching for after he graduated. “He wanted to affirm that he was from a good Mormon family with upstanding parents, so he was telling me ‘My dad has been a bishop, stake president, and right now he’s a mission president.’ He just looked so proud of himself. And even though I never do this--I never do this--I said, ‘Well, my dad is an apostle.’ That was the beginning of the relationship.”

That Sunday, Baker and her family were fasting for her mom. “When my mom found out that she had cancer, she immediately began praying that I would find someone to marry,” said Baker, who was the youngest and only unmarried child in the family. “Even though our prayers that day weren’t answered, hers were. Losing my mom was so difficult--it still is--but having me go away to school so that the apron strings were a little loosened, and then having me meet my future husband and get married while she was still alive [helped]. God just worked miracles. Matt was only there that one Sunday and I just happened to sit by him. It is a fairy tale, but it’s definitely got the Lord’s hand in it. . . . I’m so grateful that Heavenly Father blessed me with a husband at the time I lost my mom; I would have been so lost.”

Now, Baker often includes her young daughters in performances when she is able. “I try to do the same thing [my mother did for me] with my own children and it’s tough! It makes me so grateful for my own mom for taking that time with me.” It’s worth it, though, she affirms. “Family. It’s all about family,” said Baker. “I love to be with my family, my children, my husband.”

And through all those experiences, she has been prepared for the great things that are now coming her way, like her recent Grammy nomination. “I always knew growing up that the Lord had something in store for me, and I knew it was there and I had to work my hardest to be prepared to receive it and find it and go after it.” Even with such a great accomplishment, though, not much has changed. “I’ve had experiences where I started to be a little too diva-ish and Heavenly Father immediately nudged me back and reminded me of who I am and what I represent and the purpose of my gift,” said Baker. “I am truly grateful that Heavenly Father loves me enough to remind me who I am.”

LDS musician receives GRAMMY nomination

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 11:52:00 -0700

source:

Mormon Life says: Congratulations!

Utah native and member of the Church Jenny Oaks Baker received her first ever GRAMMY nomination last night.

Her newest album, Wish upon a Star: A Tribute To The Music of Walt Disney is among five finalists in the Best Pop Instrumental Album category.

The songs on the album were produced and arranged by Emmy-award-winning composer Kurt Bestor. The Grammy nomination is a first for Baker, who is on the Shadow Mountain Records (the record label of Deseret Book).

Deseret Book CEO Sheri Dew gives credit to many individuals for this nomination. “Jenny Oaks Baker is an extraordinary talent. She makes the violin sing,” Dew said. “Her talent, combined with the superb touch of producer Kurt Bestor and our music team’s skillful handling of this product have proven a winning combination. We are honored to have a CD showcasing such sheer talent on the Shadow Mountain label.”

Baker issued a statement this morning about her nomination: “I am absolutely thrilled about this Grammy nomination! I’m grateful to Shadow Mountain Records for everything they’ve done to secure this nomination and to help my music be heard around the world. I’m also grateful to Kurt for his amazing arrangements and superb artistry. I feel so blessed.”

This is the second Grammy Nomination for Shadow Mountain Records. Gladys Knight won a GRAMMY under the label in 2005 for Best Gospel Choir Or Chorus Album.

The 54^th Annual GRAMMY Awards will take place February 12, 2012 and will air on CBS.

New spin on Mormon hymns from the heart

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 08:20:00 -0600

source: MormonTimes.com

For some time, there has been a game afoot among LDS musicians.

They keep trying to come up with new and fresh settings for LDS hymns.

We've heard the frontier instrumental versions of hymns from Enoch Train, the lush orchestrations of Lex de Azevedo and the grand, roof-raising renditions of Mack Wilberg.

Jenny Oaks Baker runs them through a violin, Paul Cardall and others pump them through a piano.

Now a new band — The Sabre Rattlers — has given its own spin to the tradition. Their CD, "Twixt Me and the Peaceful Rest," takes hymns cherished by folks in the Wasatch Mountains and gives them the twang and tang of the Ozark Mountains.

{A&E} Listen to This: Jenny Oaks Baker Goes Disney

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 00:04:00 -0600

by Kaela Worthen
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: I wasn't sure about a CD with remakes of my favorite Disney songs, but I was in for a happy surprise with these violin arrangements. I’m a traditional sort of person. When I hear a song and fall in love with it, I don’t like to hear people mess it up with variations. A classic is a classic, and that’s the way it is. What’s that saying about “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”? Yeah.

So I was a little apprehensive when I sat down to listen to Jenny Oaks Baker’s new CD, Wish Upon a Star. Because it’s a remake of classic Disney songs. Uh oh.

But as I started listening, I was surprised, then confused, then pleased, then very pleased. This is Disney like you’ve never heard it before. You may not even realize at first that what you are listening to is Disney because the music is so flowing and elegant that it sweeps you away completely. But then—suddenly—you think, “Wait! I recognize this tune!” And sure enough, emerging out of the intricate melodies of violin and accompaniments is a familiar Disney favorite.

Kurt Bestor has written beautiful arrangements that differ enough from the Disney songs to become their own unique masterpieces while still stirring up remembrances of the emotions captured in the Disney originals, and Jenny Oaks Baker performs flawlessly. With this as my first introduction to both the composer and the violinist, I am now an eager convert.

These are the tracks:

Colors of the Wind

When You Wish Upon a Star

Beauty and the Beast

A Whole New World

God Help the Outcasts

A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes

Mary Poppins Fantasia:
A Spoonful of Sugar
Chim Chim Cher-ee
Step in Time, Feed the Birds
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
Let's Go Fly a Kite

Part of Your World

Once Upon a Dream

Can You Feel the Love Tonight?

Baby Mine

Check out this video to see one of my favorites, “Colors of the Wind,” performed live.

And click here to vote on your favorite Disney song!

—
Kaela Worthen is the associate editor at LDS Living. A self-titled “ultimate grammar nerd,” she also battles serious addictions to news and food websites and a compulsion to dance to the radio while driving.

"Colors of the Wind" by Jenny Oaks Baker

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 10:07:00 -0600

source: youtube.com

Mormon Life says: Beautiful music. Jenny Oaks Baker performs "Colors of the Wind" from her most recent CD, Wish Upon a Star. This version is so beautiful -- as are all the other tracks on the CD as well.