Kofi Baker is keeping father Ginger Baker’s legacy going with the Music of Cream

It’s not easy being the son of a legend, and it’s difficult to imagine a more complicated father-and-son relationship than Ginger Baker and Kofi Baker. Throughout most of the latter’s life, Ginger Baker was disconnected from his son.

“My relationship with my dad was always very up and down and spotty at best,” Kofi Baker said while calling from Billings, Montana. “I didn’t see him for years at a time. It was an unusual childhood. I didn’t realize that he was this rock star. But when I look back, it was such a difficult childhood.”

Kofi Baker, 50, who was born after Ginger Baker’s supergroup Cream splintered, lost touch with his father and was homeless for a period during his teens.

“People think because you grew up the son of a rock star that you had a glamorous life, but it couldn’t have been more different for me,” Baker said. “The future was uncertain, and I had no connection with my dad. I didn’t understand him. He had the chance to invest money and do good things.

“But my dad wasn’t a normal person. He would blow money in unimaginable ways. He would fly horses from Africa to England. He would drive across the Sahara desert and would spend money on ridiculous things. I look back at the choices he made, and I’ll never understand him.”

The Bakers patched up their relationship as best they could in September. It was just days before the volatile Ginger Baker died of complications of chronic-obstructive pulmonary disease at age 80 in early October.

Kofi Baker paused before speaking about visiting his father in the hospital. “He was nice to me toward the end, which wasn’t a given,” Baker said. “I only saw him twice in the last 18 years. But our last time together was good. He would nod to me and laugh. It was a nice way to say goodbye.”

The Bakers bonded over music. Like his father, Kofi Baker is a drummer. Baker is on tour with his band the Music of Cream, which tips its cap to the storied band, which was comprised of his father, guitarist Eric Clapton and vocalist-bassist Jack Bruce. The Music of Cream headlines the Bing Crosby Theater on Wednesday night.

“I told my father that I’m keeping his legacy going with the band, and he laughed and smiled,” Baker said. “He taught me how to play, and I told him that I’m keeping all of the secrets he taught me, and I’ll be playing your music for years since it deserves to be heard.”

Kofi Baker was primarily a jazz drummer from his teens until midlife. He started playing Cream songs about 15 years ago, which is when the supergroup reunited for shows.

“The music is a nice fit for me since my dad was a jazz drummer who played in rock bands,” Baker said. “My dad was innovative. Listen to how he shaped the songs. Listen to the 5/4 bolero on ‘White Room’ and the backwards beat on ‘Sunshine of Your Love.’ His fills helped make the songs. There’s something about the music of Cream that just makes you feel good. You play these songs, and they just make you feel better.”

Baker veers away from the original recordings. “Why should I replicate what’s on the records if my father never did that live,” Baker said. “My dad never played the same way twice. The same goes for his band.

“Listen to the way Cream evolved. If you listen to what they sounded like in 1967-68 compared to what they became in 2005, they became a totally different band. Each of the members of Cream matured. It was so evident at the reunion shows. The songs were simplified. It was an amazing experience to witness what they did onstage before I was born.”

Clapton, who Baker knew well as a child (“Having Eric Clapton around when I was young was just normal for me,” Baker said), gives the Music of Cream the thumbs up.

“He’s just an amazing guy,” Baker said. “He’s the only one left now since Jack Bruce and my father are gone.”

Clapton’s nephew, Will Johns, who is the son of venerable producer Andy Johns (Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix), is a member of the Music of Cream along with bassist-vocalist Sean McNabb and guitarist-keyboardist Chris Shutters.

“We have such a connection as a band,” Baker said. “We’re going to be taking a few steps forward with this tour. The setlist is ‘Disraeli Gears’ and a few Eric Clapton songs like ‘Cocaine’ and ‘Badge.’ There’s no album like ‘Disraeli Gears.’ The arrangements are simple, and the songs are great.”

“Disraeli Gears” was one of a number of game-changing albums released in 1967. Cream’s second of its three albums is a move from traditional 12-bar blues into psychedelia. The songs range from the ubiquitous classic rocker “Sunshine of Your Love” to the quirky obscurity “Blue Condition,” which was penned by Ginger Baker.

“Those songs still hold up so well,” Baker said. “The guys in Cream were at the top of their game when they made ‘Disraeli Gears.’ It’s such a pleasure for us to play those songs.”

Baker expects to play the Cream material for years. All that’s different now is that his father is gone. “I’m hoping he’s looking down on me from wherever he is,” Baker said. “Now that he passed away, it’s more emotional for me to play his songs than ever.

“But I feel really good about things since we put things to bed in a good way. I told my father that I loved him. I love his music. He died, but there’s no reason that his music has to ever die.”