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Baseline formed in mid 2005 from the ashes of a previous quartet that Geoff and Steve sang with. We've had two changes of personnel since then.
Our name derives from a long process of elimination but primarily we wanted to have a name identifiable with Denver and the front-range of the Colorado Rockies, and have a name that wasn't already in use! The local reference comes from Baseline Road which is a major east-west street in Boulder, Colorado that extends east of the city through parts of four counties. Although none of us live in Boulder, Steve went to college there and Geoff sings in Boulder with the Ars Nova Singers. On a trivia note, Baseline Road follows the 40th parallel and was so named as it was the primary baseline for surveying the land in the eastern portion of the new (in 1861) Colorado territory; a road was eventually cut along the survey baseline.
Singing Lead with Baseline is Steve Kientz, who receives remuneration from the other quartet members so he'll sing with them. Steve has a wealth of barbershop and choral experience, and provides the personality for the quartet. Geoff Quelch is the "newest to barbershop" member of the quartet, having sung organized barbershop since January 2002; Geoff provides the bass notes and the "weight" to the quartet. Providing the sparkle for Baseline by singing Tenor is David Zoetewey (rumors that David was selected because his last name begins with a 'Z' to match the other rare letter 'Q' are unfounded). David is a Ph.D. student at the University of Colorado at Denver and has a wealth of a-cappella and other vocal experience. Last, but by no means least, is Jeff Markle who sings the notes that are left, most usually described as the Baritone part. Jeff has more experience in barbershop than the other three members combined, but doesn't let that go to his head too often.
In answer to the oft-asked question as to why we're an international quartet, Baseline has representatives from two nationalities. Jeff, David and Steve are all flag-waving United States citizens, and Geoff is Baseline's very British bass. Quartet rehearsals generally are filled with peace and brotherly love, but the occasional international incident has been spawned by Geoff's vowel sounds not quite matching everyone else's.
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