Ep. 181: Hale Baskin

Artifice

Raised in the San Francisco jazz scene, Hale Baskin has always brought her uninhibited and ready-to-rumble personality to her performances. By the time she was twenty, Hale had already been awarded three DownBeat Magazine Awards for Student Jazz performances, performed with notable musicians and ensembles like Arturo Sandoval, the Count Basie Orchestra and Jamie Davis, and the Mike Vax Big Band—not to mention led her own ensemble in multiple Western states. In 2010, Hale relocated to North Texas, where she began experimenting with the personalized sound that’s now her trademark: funky, sly, and polished without being sterile. Her current projects include the Southpaw Preachers, a creative soul-funk band that plays both original music and covers; and Jazz Addiction, a swing band whose repertoire, ranging from Motown to Bossa nova, breaks the category. Hale brings her humor, extensive professional background, and entrepreneurial spirit to each aspect of her business. For private events, she often acts as an informal Master of Ceremonies, coordinating the many moving parts of a stage performance before seamlessly delivering the next number. As a band leader, Hale focuses on cooperation and accountability so that each member has the space to play to their strengths—literally! The Southpaw Preachers and Jazz Addiction travel nationally for performances. Outside of these projects, Hale accepts freelance work in both live and studio contexts, and teaches voice lessons out of her studio in Denton, TX. As a female business owner, Hale is active in local politics, social justice, and environmentalism. https://www.halebaskin.com https://www.instagram.com/halebaskin/