Album: NewUrbanJazz.com / Artist: Bob Baldwin / 15 tracks / Nu Groove Music
Jazz
vocalist, composer and multi talented musician, Bob Baldwin refers to his
brand of jazz music as new urban jazz, something he perceives as being
representative of the future for contemporary jazz. For those of us who are
neophytes when it comes to Baldwin’s grooves, his music occupies a comfortable
space between smooth jazz and urban music, while borrowing elements from the
New American Songbook. While those genres may seem to be juxtaposed,
surprisingly Baldwin does a fabulous job of making them all come together on
his new CD NewUrbanJazz.com, which debuted on March 22nd, at
the # 8 spot on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Charts.
The album NewUrbanJazz.com is comprised of a collection of original Baldwin tunes such as the opening track, a funky R&B groove titled “Jeep Jazz,” and songs such as Stevie Wonder’s “My Cherie Amour,” which have become part of the new standards. Baldwin also collaborated to write songs with, Marion Meadows (“She’s All That”), Dennis Johnson (“Natural Thing,” “Seems Like One Of Those Daze,” “Too Late,” and “Jeep Jazz”), and Joey Sommerville (“It Is What It Is,” and “All Nite”).
The songs on Baldwin’s album are always uplifting, the notes are brightly colored, the attitude is cheery, and on songs such as “Third Wind,” the music soars. Sommerville’s trumpet and flugelhorn combine with Baldwin multitasking on piano, bass, percussion, drums and vocals, to give the song lift. Tony Clarke’s shakers and tambourine contribute to the ethereal feel of the song.
The real jewel on this CD comes in the form of Wonder’s “My Cherie Amour,” which is presented in spectacular fashion by saxophone virtuoso Najee, who is accompanied by Baldwin’s elegant piano key strokes. The textures are rich, the notes are scrumptious, and the romantic ambience is heavenly.
As splendid as the instrumentals are, they are trumped on the fourth track “Somebody Else’s Guy,” by the outstanding soulful vocals of Jocelyn Brown, who is backed by the equally passionate vocalist Annette E. Brown. The song moves well, as the singer finds herself in a quandary, having lost her love to another woman. Over the years, the North Carolina native Brown has worked in the studio and on stage, providing backup vocals for artists such as Luther Vandross, Roberta Flack, John Lennon, Janis Joplin, George Benson and Bette Midler. The connection between the singers and the song that they penned is obvious, and results in an evocative vocal performance.
In addition to the many purely jazz tunes that we could continue to drool over for many more minutes and words, I really liked the incorporation of urban music into Baldwin’s jazz. To truly appreciate that last comment you have to understand that if you asked me to list my favorite genres of music, urban would either not make the list or be somewhere near the bottom of it. The reason I am attracted to Baldwin’s presentation so much, is it destroyed my paradigm of what urban and rap music is all about. Instead of getting hard edged programmed beats with cynical lyrics, we get to listen to hand played instruments, and superbly talented vocalists like Tyrone Iris, softly serve up rhymes on “Seems Like One Of Those Days.” Real drumbeats are provided by Dennis Johnson and Baldwin, with Baldwin’s marvelous touch on the Fender Rhodes and keyboards, once again providing an elegant accompaniment.
In the liner notes the song, “Don’t Keep Me Waiting,” is billed as, “Hip Hop with NO SAMPLES and REAL CHORDS.” Baldwin collaborated with rapper ASoulBorn to develop a tune which is a soft rap, with elegant piano / keyboard keys, and hints of R&B rhythms.
The track that follows, “Don’t Keep Me Waiting,” is also an urban tune written by Della Croche, Dennis Johnson and Ragan Whiteside. Croche is the lead rapper, striking more of a familiar tempo and beat, with Whiteside and Johnson supporting him on backup vocals.
I will leave the role of prognosticator to Bob Baldwin but if he is right, and his album NewUrbanJazz is representative of the future for contemporary jazz, then buy me a ticket, because I want to be on that train. Do yourself a favor and visit your favorite digital store to purchase a copy of this outstanding CD.
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Reviewed March 2008
