Baba
Bio
Songwriter, pianist, musical director, illustrator, activist, producer, gardener and blogger, Baba Buffalo, is a renaissance man. He was born in a frigid Midwestern blizzard of 1982. Growing up, he listened to the sounds of jazz, blues, trees, the news and first began singing Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” at age two. Baba grew through many shoes that led him ‘cross the great lake of Michigan to the ‘between two lakes’, of Interlochen Arts Academy. In his late teens, his performance and compositions we’re recognized in Downbeat Magazine. In the summer of 2000 and 2001, Baba toured Peru with his jazz trio performing his compositions from Lima to Pisco.
Baba went on to study at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. After a trip to Europe, Baba heard the road call again, bringing the conservatory years to a close. The young Mr. Buffalo left Boston and moved to New York City, from where he toured the U.S. and Canada. He has performed and recorded with many different musical groups in a variety of styles ranging from opera, Sufi, hip-hop, jazz, classical, reggae, ragtime, folk, free and fusion. He has accompanied professional dance companies such as Alvin Alley and Martha Graham. Baba has been a musical director with National Dance Institute of New York since 2004, performing, teaching and musically directing dance residencies in New York City, Connecticut, Colorado & Mexico.
On an early June morning in New York City, Baba met his wife, Lizzie West and has been traveling on the road with her, and their Dharma Dog, ever since. In 2007, the duo released, I Pledge Allegiance to Myself on social justice label Appleseed Records. The album received international recognition and had songs featured on Showtime’s, The L Word and Democracy Now! After a year of national touring, they released a follow up double-disk live album, The Tumbeweed Cabaret, in 2008 and spent the summer touring with former chief UN Weapons Inspector, Scott Ritter. In 2009 The duo independently released, Chariots Rise, a five song EP while living in Connecticut. Baba is now focusing on recording and releasing monthly downloads of his and Lizzie’s music.
Songwriter
Baba has been composing music since the age of 11. He has written extensively for voice, piano, smaller instrumental combos and orchestras. Today he focuses on composing for solo piano, lyrical songs and co-writes beautiful songs with his wife Lizzie. He also composes and musically directs for the National Dance Institute in NYC as well as Celebrate the Beat in Colorado. Baba will consider song commissions on a project by project basis.
His first album was recorded and released in 2001 by his instrumental jazz trio, Treeonik. Listen and download tracks at 
. Baba is in the process of writing and recording his music at his home studio. Please check the Download of the Month page to listen to some of his latest songs.
Please browse the Song Catalog and enjoy exploring his music and lyrics.
Artist
Baba started drawing homes and other architectural structures, using pen and ink. As a meditation practice, he doesn’t use pencil or a ruler. Baba enjoys the challenge of staying in the moment, using only his eye and free hand as his guide. Being a pianist, both classically and jazz trained since the age of 4, Baba’s technique and precision has been trained into his hands through music. This lends a unique and fresh perspective to his house portraits. If you are interested in commissioning a portrait of your home or favorite structure, he take a limited amount of assignments each year. To view some of Baba’s work, visit his website: http://bababuffalo.wordpress.com
Director
For the past five yeas, Baba has been teaching and musically directing with the National Dance Institute based in New York City. He’s taught and worked in NYC, Connecticut, Mexico and Colorado with Dance Teaching Artists in 1-3 week residencies where he helps direct and accompany full musical and dance productions. Baba is the musical director for Celebrate the Beat in Colorado, a non-profit dance company that engages public school children to experience the arts through dance, music and art. He is also the director of First Notes, a youth orchestra program inspired by the wildly successful Venezuelan program, El Sistema.
Web Designer
For the past three years, Baba has been built and designed the past two websites for Lizzie and himself. He has built and designed a couple more sites as well and does a limited amount of commissions per year. If you’re interested in this site and or would like to have Baba build your site, please e-mail: contact@lizzieandbaba.com .. subject: Website.