Fred Thelonious Baker (born 4 June 1960) is an English guitarist and jazz bass guitarist from Tibshelf, Derbyshire. He is known for playing in Phil Miller's Canterbury scene band In Cahoots.
Baker played the guitar until his mid-teens, at which point he began to take an interest in the bass as well. He played in The John Etheridge/Ric Sanders Group in the early 1980s. He has also worked with his own group, the Fred Thelonious Baker Group who recorded a self-titled album in 1984.[1] Baker has recorded several albums with Harry Beckett. They have also made a concert tour in Europe together. Baker accompanied Beckett's band on a Charles Mingus tribute tour in the UK. Other artists Baker has worked with include Horace Parlan, Vikki Clayton and Elton Dean.
Baker joined In Cahoots in April 1988, replacing their bassist Hugh Hopper. He has toured and recorded six albums with them, and remains a key member of the band. He also works as a teacher at Birmingham Conservatoire and The University of Huddersfield.
Baker is the current bassist for Soft Machine, having been chosen by his predecessor Roy Babbington.[2]
| width=70px | Year | width=350px | Artist | Title |
| 1984 | Fred Thelonious Baker | Fred Thelonious Baker Group (released 1988) | ||
| 1987 | Harry Beckett | Bremen Concert | ||
| 1987 | Harry Beckett | Live, Vol. 2 | ||
| 1988 | Phil Miller | Split Seconds | ||
| 1989 | In Cahoots | In Cahoots Live 86–89 | ||
| 1991 | Phil Miller | Digging In | ||
| 1991 | Harry Beckett | All Four One | ||
| 1992 | Phil Miller & Fred Baker | Double Up | ||
| 1993 | In Cahoots | In Cahoots Live in Japan | ||
| 1993 | various artists | A Moon of Roses[3] | ||
| 1993 | Harry Beckett | Les Jardins Du Casino | ||
| 1994 | In Cahoots | Recent Discoveries | ||
| 1994 | Fred Thelonious Baker | Missing Link | ||
| 1996 | In Cahoots | Parallel | ||
| 1998 | Pip Pyle | 7 Year Itch | ||
| 1999 | Fred Thelonious Baker | Basically Speaking | ||
| 2001 | In Cahoots | Out of the Blue | ||
| 2003 | In Cahoots | All That | ||
| 2004 | Pip Pyle's Bash! | Belle Illusion | ||
| 2004 | Pete Saberton | Rich Core | ||
| 2007 | In Cahoots | Conspiracy Theories | ||
| 2010 | Joe Sachse, John Marshall & Fred T. Baker | One Take | ||
| 2010 | Joe Sachse, John Marshall & Fred T. Baker | 18. Chemnitzer Jazzfest (DVD of above, released 2013) | ||
| 2011 | Phil Miller In Cahoots | Mind Over Matter | ||
| 2014 | Fred Thelonious Baker | Life Suite | ||
| 2023 | Soft Machine | Other Doors |