CELEBRATING THE ICONIC
MUSIC OF THEIR FATHERS
THE STORY SO FAR
with special guests Glen Hughes and Robben Ford - Music of Cream Tour New Zealand 2017
Eric, Ginger and Jack - CREAM
In 1966 Ginger drives with his wife Liz from London to Oxford to see Eric Clapton perform with John Mayall. After the show Ginger asks Eric if he wants to put a band together. Eric agrees if Jack Bruce is on bass. An iconic band is formed, which took pop, psychedelia, classical, African and folk and fused it with the blues.
The rest is history..
The Cream quickly rose to the top, releasing their debut album Fresh Cream to critical acclaim. After recording their sophomore effort Disraeli Gears at Atlantic Studios in New York, the band continued to tour.
Jack, Janet Godfrey, Ginger, Eric and Charlotte Martin
Cream's live performances quickly became legendary as they expanded their repertoire with more extensive improvisation and forged a new sound and pushed the boundaries of where the blues could go. Their combined musical prowess helped define an era and influenced so much to come..
With manager Robert Stigwood they forged partnerships with the elite in the music business. They very quickly became an international sensation.
Ahmet Ertegun, Jack, Eric, Ginger and Brian Epstein
After almost 3 years of stellar success, 4 epoch defining albums and an incessant touring schedule, the band eventually imploded. But not before their famous Farewell Concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London on November 26 1968. The 3 musicians went off in different directions, but their impact as Cream was to continue throughout their individual stellar careers. The music has stood the test of time and lives on..
SONS OF CREAM
Kofi Baker, Malcolm Bruce, Rob Johnson
Kofi and Malcolm grew up surrounded by music from an early age.
Cream's music has become an integral part of Kofi and Malcolm's careers. And now joined by Rob they continue to play the music of their fathers and are making it their own. It's in the DNA..
About
KOFI BAKER
Son of legendary drummer Ginger Baker, Kofi Baker is a name synonymous with drumming excellence. Without question, Kofi not only continues, but extends the family legacy, with outstanding skills, drive and dedication to his craft.
Kofi’s first live performance was with his father on the cult UK tv music show “The Old Grey Whistle Test” – at just six years of age he proved he had inherited more than just his father’s name. In the early 80’s, Kofi and his father played drum duets throughout Europe, amazing audiences with complex African polyrhythms. Later, Kofi toured with John Ethridge (Soft Machine) and gigged in London with Steve Waller (Manfred Mann) and Randy California (Spirit). He also toured Europe with Steve Marriot’s Humble Pie.
During the 1990’s Kofi toured with Jack Bruce in Budapest, signed with Scotty Brothers Records and recorded the album Lost City, cut Abstract Logic with Jonas Hellborg and Shawn Lane and toured extensively – including more drum duets with Ginger Baker.
In 1994, Kofi headed off to the USA and for some time lived with his father in Colorado. Footage of this can be seen in the highly regarded documentary ‘Beware of Mr Baker’
In 2015 Kofi joined The Extreme Guitar Tour with Uli Jon Roth -former Scorpions lead guitarist, with Vinny Appice (John Lennon, Rick Derringer, DIO, Black Sabbath) and Vinnie Moore (UFO).
Later that year he attended the CREAM reunion concerts at Madison Square Garden and following these historic shows, started to develop and evolve his ‘Cream Experience’ band.
After leaving Colorado for LA, Kofi continued to play extensively and also set up his own drum school which spawned many loyal fans and pupils. Anyone taking lessons or attending his clinics can testify to his easy, friendly manner and the excellent way he communicates his passion to others.
Between 2017 and 2022 he was invited to become an integral part of The Music Of Cream 50th Anniversary Tour, which began in Australia & New Zealand and has subsequently played hundreds of shows across Australasia, the U.S.A and the U.K.
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More Info at kofibaker.com
About
MALCOLM BRUCE
Composer, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Malcolm Bruce has toured, performed, recorded and appeared on records with some of the biggest names in music including Little Richard, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, Dr John, Steve Cropper, Joe Satriani, Joe Bonamassa, Bill Ward and Ozzy Osbourne (Black Sabbath), Simon Phillips (Toto, The Who, Jeff Beck), Leslie West and Corky Laing (Mountain), Tony Butler and Mark Brzezicki (Big Country) and his father the late Jack Bruce of Cream.
Malcolm curated a tribute to his father in October 2016 alongside Pete Brown (Cream lyricist) at O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire and performed with legends such as Lulu, Eddi Reader, Maggie Reilly, Paul Young, Mick Taylor (Rolling Stones), Dennis Chambers (Santana, Parliament / Funkadelic), Gary Husband (Level 42, John McLaughlin), David Sancious (Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Peter Gabriel, Stanley Clarke) and Ginger Baker.
He released his album ‘Salvation’ in 2017, a collection of 10 songs recorded at Kevin McKendree’s (Delbert McClinton, Brian Setzer) The Rock House Studio in Franklin TN and mixed by Steve Orchard (Paul McCartney, Chris Cornell) and toured the UK and USA in support.
Between 2017 and 2019 Malcolm played around 100 shows in the UK, US, Australia and New Zealand with 'The Music of Cream’, a tribute to his father’s band, alongside Kofi Baker. Some of the shows featured special guests Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, Black Sabbath) and Robben Ford (Miles Davis, Joni Mitchell).
In 2018 and 2019 Malcolm was co-executive producer, arranger and performer for 'Heavenly Cream', a project headed by Cream lyricist Pete Brown and recorded at Abbey Road Studios, which featured performances by Ginger Baker, Joe Bonamassa, Bobby Rush, Paul Rodgers, Deborah Bonham, Bernie Marsden (Whitesnake), Pee-Wee Ellis (James Brown), Abass Dodoo and many more. Produced by Rob Cass. The album along with a documentary, 'THE CREAM ACOUSTIC SESSIONS' was released to critical acclaim by Quarto Valley Records in November 2023.
Malcolm was also the bass player for the late Pete Brown's final record 'THE SHADOW CLUB' featuring Richard Bailey (Bob Marley, Jeff Beck, Steve Winwood, Incognito) on drums, Clem Clempson and Eric Clapton on guitars, slated for release in 2024.
He’s currently working on a new album, FAKE HUMANS AND REAL DOLLS, to be released in 2024.
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More Info at malcolmbrucemusic.com
About
ROB JOHNSON
Bobby Johnson is a guitarist and vocalist from south - east London UK, now residing in Liverpool.
Influenced by folk, rock, soul, and blues from 60’s and 70s as well as later 90’s and 2000’s shoe gaze and art rock, he has carved his own sound whilst retain a vintage style to his playing and music.
Bobby is a member of the harmony centred trio Motel Sundown and is currently an instrumental tutor at Liverpool University.
He has had extensive experience playing festivals and touring in the UK, USA and Europe (including support slots for Iggy Pop). As well as performing live has also worked as a session guitarist (MT Jones, Edgar Jones) and co-producer. Bobby also written and arranged material for artists (including Ginger Baker’s Airforce).
Graduating from Liverpool University with a 1st class Degree with an avid interest in open tunings he is in the process of compiling and releasing an open tuning chord book.
More Info at instagram.com/bobbyjohnsoniimusic
Join Malcolm, Kofi and Rob as they celebrate the rich history and music that helped shape the 60s and beyond..
