BIOGRAPHY

City Sketches, Inc. / 2778 Cumberland Blvd., #309 / Smyrna, Ga. 30080 / © 2009  

Baldwin  Timeline (1960 - current)

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BOB BALDWIN NEW YORK - Mount Vernon, NY native Bob Baldwin is unquestionably an unsung hero when it comes to the Contemporary/Smooth Jazz genre. Why, you say? Although he has been running his production company since 1997, Baldwin has released 5 records on 5 different labels since 2000. Labels collapsing and going out of business, however, his last 4 discs charted Billboard top 10 Contemporary Jazz. His radio program "NewUrbanJazz Lounge w/ Bob Baldwin" is changing the sound of contemporary jazz in the midst of the debilitating hierarchy that is smooth jazz, which has lost over 15 stations in the last 18 months. The radio show covers contemporary jazz going back to the 70's, which helps secure it's legacy, but also brings to light new artists and fuses Urban and Brazilian flvors. It's the perfect fix for contemporary jazz fans. His June 2009 release, "Lookin' Back" is a refelction of his career dating back to his first recordings of 1988 and features Chuck Loeb, Marion Meadows, Will Downing, Grover Washington, Jr. and Tom Browne.  "Lookin' back, I hope the careeer has a sense of consistency and longevity, but musically, my voice is not nearly complete/", says Baldwin. His 2008 release, "NewUrbanJazz.com" fuses jazz, funk with vocals. It's also the landscape of his radio show on WJZZ (Saturdays 6-10pm). The latest features Jocelyn Brown, Phil Perry, Freddie Jackson, Marion Meadows, Najee, Frank McComb, and Atlanta stars Joey Sommerville and Toni Redd. his 2005 release “All In A Days Work” on 215 Records (His 10th overall) is certainly no departure from his winning formula as a composer, arranger keyboardist and producer. Fortunately, this journeyman was blessed to be taught to play the piano by his father (Robert Baldwin Sr.). Meanwhile, we should seriously consider his musical influences as a youngster with the likes of Stevie Wonder, Patrice Rushen, Chick Corea, EWF, Joe Sample and Ramsey Lewis, Miles Davis and George Duke, as their voicings can distinctively be heard in his music. Yes, it’s obvious this cast of prominent players had a profound impact on Baldwin’s musical journey. With Baldwin's natural ability to weave life's experience into music while creating inventive harmonies, he doesn't really need to fill his releases with high-powered guest appearances.  However, Baldwin has used the likes of Roy Ayers, Gerald Albright Dean James, jeff Kashiwa, Dave Mann, Chieli Minucci, Phil Perry, Kim Waters, Will Downing, Marion Meadows, Najee, Jocelyn Brown, the late Grover Washington, Jr. and Noel Pointer, Tito Puente alumni Ray Vega, Brazilian Percussion Cafe' on previous recordings over the years. The 10th CD, “All In A Days Work” by the multitalented Baldwin is 13 tracks deep, this compilation of music contains three “interludes,” several tracks with backing voices and a couple of lead vocals which adds up to be over an hour of vibrant, yet refreshingly gratifying collection of jazzy, urban nuances that will undoubtedly satisfy even the most discriminating smooth jazz & urban music aficionados. Baldwin’s understanding of his craft makes him at the top of game as a player, in the midst of his compositions laced with the talented cast of musicians makes this project a rewarding listening experience. "Like everyone else, the events in September 2001 moved my soul. I wanted to write music that said 'be proud of who you are, stand up for what you believe and do what you love.' Art does imitate life and vice versa, so liveyour life to the fullest... today," Bob urges.  At age four, Bob Baldwin discovered his ability of perfect pitch with the help of his father, a jazz pianist who worked with Art Davis, Keter Betts, Max Roach and others. He studied classical and jazz repertoire, but his intriguing harmonies were no doubt honed due to his wide range of inspiration that included Oscar Peterson, Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock and Miles Davis.  While studying accounting, business and broadcasting in college, he never strayed far from his first love. Baldwin didn't let that business acumen go to waste.  He independently produced his CD (distributed through the powerful Virgin/EMI Network) Bobbaldwin.com, which sold an impressive 60,000 units.  He also used his business skills to develop and negotiate his recording deal with Narada Jazz. Bob's 2000 creation, Bob Baldwin.com was an unsupervised recording.  On 2/0/01, his position on the Billboard Contemporary Chart was #17, which was it's peak. BobBaldwin.com features the awesome talents of Gerald Albright, Marion Meadows, Armsted Christian, Dean James, Eric Essix and Tom Browne, to name a few. Baldwin's touch on "Funkin' For Jamaica" is world class as he dedicates that tune to the late Grover Washington, Jr., who was supposed to perform on the tune before his untimely death. It is Bob's second CD on this new independent label, which he founded in 1996.  This CD is his most popular in his catalog, moving over 60,000 units. In 1997, Cool Breeze, which was on the Shanachie Records label, garnered tremendous Radio success on the Gavin Smooth Jazz charts. It featured the hit single, "Summer Breeze", featuring Saxophonist Marion Meadows and Larry Coryell on guitar. His 1996 Internet release, City Sketches (soon to be re-titled) is a musical portrait of the city of Atlanta, Ga., and is on his label, City Sketches, Inc. A commemorative celebration of Atlanta's unique history, some of the titles on this jazz composition includes, "Welcome to the Games", "Freedom Parkway", "Dreamin' the Dream" and "Downtown Underground".  Violinist Regina Carter liked "Downtown Underground" so much that she used it on her latest LP, Something for Grace. Baldwin's highlight for the 1997 season was performing at the legendary Montreux Music festival in Atlanta (9/97) where he shared the stage with an Atlanta based ensemble (Blake Gaines on bass and Forrest Robinson on drums) as well as his friend and AWB member saxophonist Fred Vigdor. Baldwin also performed for the athletes at Atlanta's 1996 Centennial Olympic Games, and shared the stage with Roy Ayers and Chuck Loeb in front of hundreds at the Club Benson and Hedges Music Festival in 11/96 and 5/97. Baldwin also went to South Africa with Marion Meadows in the Fall of 2000. City Sketches was Baldwin's first release in four years and it featured Marion Meadows, Sharon Bryant (formerly of Atlantic Starr), and Rohn Lawrence as well as other rising talent in Atlanta. Roberta Flack selected Baldwin as 1989 Sony Innovators Award winner for his first album, The Dream Featuring Bob Baldwin on Malaco Jazz Records (1988). Baldwin's second and third albums Rejoice (1990) and Reflections of Love (1992) were released on Atlantic-Jazz labels. They experienced measurable success as Reflections of Love peaked at #7 on the Contemporary Jazz Chart in July 1992. As a result of his success, he performed nationwide that same year, including The World Trade Center in New York City, The Comcast Cable Show in Detroit, Michigan and in Europe with vocalist Will Downing. To his credit, Baldwin also contributed to the success of other established artists as he composed and produced material for saxmen Grover Washington, Jr. (Next Exit) and Marion Meadows (Keep It Right There). On one hot July afternoon, Bob was perusing the Billboard charts only to find his CD at #7 while Washington and Meadows were at #2 and #5, respectively. All three CD's sold in excess of 400,000 copies combined. Baldwin worked on Meadows' latest release, Body Rhythm BMG (1995) which to date has exceeded almost 100,000 units sold. He then supported the Body Rhythm album with Meadows on the road and has performed many sold-out Large City venues throughout the East and Midwest. The 1995 highlight was the performance at the Asbury Park Jazz Festival in New Jersey before an audience of 20,000 as well as sharing performance dates with vocalist Phil Perry and Chieli Minucci (Special EFX). In addition, Baldwin has a love for humanity as he has given numerous benefit performances for African-American and Latino non-profit foundations in the New York City metropolitan area over the past ten years in the New York City Metropolitan area. Baldwin performed at the 1995 Special Olympics in New Haven, Ct. This Keyboardist exhibits his writing skills from time to time. As a contributing staff writer for Strictly Jazz Magazine published in Atlanta, Ga., he has written stories on Herbie Hancock, Patrice Rushen, Yellowjackets, Rio Kawasaki, Will Downing, Ray Vega, Lennie White, Keiko Matsui, Ray Obiedo,  Marion Meadows, Joe Sample and George Duke. Baldwin also exercises his entrepreneurial prowess as he owns publishing company Are-Gee-Bee, Inc. Some of the company's writing, production and performing credits include George Benson, Grover Washington, Jr., Will Downing, Marion Meadows, Deniece Williams, Tom Browne, Norman Conners and Pieces of a Dream. He also owns a production company Chameleon Productions, which showcases his production portfolio as well as City Sketches. Inc., which he uses to house his own body of work. Bob Baldwin was born in Mount Vernon, N.Y. His father, Robert Baldwin, Sr., also an accomplished jazz pianist and upright bassist in his own right. His brief Pianist career including  working with Keter Betts (Ella Fitzgerald’s main bassist) and Art Davis (who performed For years with John Coltrane).   He later met Hancock at his Sony Innovators performance in Beverly Hills in 1989 whom inspired him during his formative years. In 1986 he formed the The Bob Baldwin/Al Orlo Project. The The Baldwin/Orlo Project performed at the legendary Bottom Line in New York City leading to his first production with trumpeter Tom Browne. This opportunity led to his first album and eventually to his two-album deal with Atlantic Jazz Records. The Project also proved to be a stepping stone for other band members. Many went on to work as instrumentalist men for some of the most popular jazz and pop bands in the world including: Spyrogyra, Michel Camilo, Paul Simon, Luther Vandross, Roberta Flack, The Silos, The Average White Band, The Temptations, Ben E. King, the Broadway play "Momma Mia", and Chick Corea. Baldwin draws his musical strengths from his spiritual source.  "God has been good to me and blessed me with a wonderful talent.  I look to him daily for direction and strength and give him thanks daily". His Gospel influences are Tramaine Hawkins, Helen Baylor, Yolanda Adams and Vickie Winans.  "When you sing from God's soul, you ultimately save souls".  Hence, the feeling you get from Baldwin's passionate playing comes from his spiritual source." In 1986, Baldwin also exercises his entrepreneurial prowess as he owns publishing company Funky Onion Music and Are-Gee-Bee Music, Inc. Some of the company's writing, production and performing credits include George Benson, Grover Washington, Jr., Will Downing, Marion Meadows, Deniece Williams, Tom Browne, Norman Conners and Pieces of a Dream. He also owns a production company, City Sketches, Inc. which he uses to house his own body of work. In 1996, he released “City Sketches/Welcome To The Games”, where he showcased the CD on the web. This is where Baldwin learned the true nature of the music business, from artwork to production to wholesaling and consigning his product. That led to his 5th CD on Shanachie entitled, “Cool Breeze”, which featured the top 10 single,  “Summer Breeze” in 1997. In 2000, he went independent again with Bobbaldwin.com, which to date is his best seller. He recorded a Tribute to the World Trade Center victims with “The American Spirit” and his 7th CD, “Standing Tall”. The latter charted top 10 in the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Charts and a top-3 single, “The Way She Looked At Me”. His deal with A440 Music is monumental as He looks to exhale and release several releases, including his8th CD, which he recorded in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil and features Some very talented Brazilian musicians.  He continues to Innovate and bring new talent to the forefront, one of his core career goals.