Bob Baldwin

Expect a fun, funky, eventful program, from cool Piano trio work to large ensemble groups with Percussion from Brazil, Sax, Guitar and Vocals. Been doing shows worldwide since 1981.

Bob Baldwin is an American, New York State born, contemporary jazz pianist, music composer, author, radio host and creator of the NewUrbanJazz Lounge, and music producer. His staunch views on owning his own recorded masters has earned him the title from his peers ‘the Ray Charles of Independent Contemporary Jazz and Soul music’. He owns more than 26 of his own studio projects.

Bob learned music from his late father (Robert Baldwin, Sr.) when he was six, and his recording career started in 1983. His debut album, A Long Way to Go, was released in 1988, and his latest (and 31st) release entitled, Henna, his 31st release (2/7/20). All but seven discs in his solo recording catalog are owned by his label, City Sketches, Inc.

For 2015, Baldwin turned to the sprawling catalog of Stevie Wonder to create one of his finest projects ever: MelloWonder: Songs in the Key of Stevie – an unprecedented one-from-the-heart that has taken him two years to lovingly assemble.

MelloWonder is 14 songs - 12 covers and two originals – primarily featuring Baldwin on a battery of ivories, keyboards and synthesizers along with special guests that include saxophonists Ryan Kilgore (currently a member of Stevie’s Wonderlove band) and Najee, and flautist Ragan Whiteside. Highlights include “Creepin’,” “Lately,” “Love’s Light in Flight,” “You and I”, and “Rocket Love.”

In addition to his work as a musician, Bob Baldwin hosts a nationally syndicated weekly radio show ('The NewUrbanJazz Lounge' broadcast across the African American Public Radio Service and the Internet) and author of the music biz E-book “You Better Ask Somebody (Staying On Top of Your Career in the ‘Friggin’ Music Business)” (2011).

His father, Robert Garfield Baldwin Sr. who never recorded one solo LP under his leadership, played piano with bassists Keter Betts and Art Davis. Bob’s cousin is renowned pianist Larry Willis so he clearly stems from musical excellence.

Bob began being taught piano by his father at age 4. His musical influences include Herbie Hancock, Patrice Rushen, Chick Corea, Earth Wind & Fire, Ramsey Lewis, Stevie Wonder and the late, greats Joe Sample, Miles Davis and George Duke. In 1986, he formed The Bob Baldwin/Al Orlo Project in New Rochelle, NY, performing at the legendary club the Bottom Line in New York City, opening up for Tom Browne of “Funkin’ for Jamaica” fame, and this led to his first production effort with trumpeter Tom Browne on one of the first-ever gospel-jazz offerings, No Longer I.

In addition to plum sideman work complimenting the likes of singers Phil Perry and Will Downing, and the late, legendary instrumentalists Grover Washington, Jr. and Noel Pointer, The Dream Featuring Bob Baldwin released a concept project in 1988, prophetically titled I've Got a Long Way to Go on Malaco Jazz, and that led to Bob meeting his heroes Roberta Flack and Herbie Hancock at a Sony Innovators ceremony in Beverly Hills. Bob was selected by the aforementioned Flack from over 300 applicants and that led to an eventual signing by then President Sylvia Rhone to the Atlantic Jazz label. He released Rejoice (1990) and Reflections of Love (1992) featuring Lenny White, Will Downing, Marion Meadows, and James Robinson, among others. A third album for Atlantic Jazz, State of Mind was recorded in 1994 but never released due to the shuttering of the label. “I remember that day like it was yesterday, sitting in the office talking to the suits on Dec 1, 1992, watching the Christmas tree outside the Atlantic office window, being lifted up at the Rockefeller Center in New York, getting the bad news about the label. That’s when I really started my track about recording independently.”

By the time of Bob’s 20th release, Twenty, fans witnessed him pay homage to the legends while staying a step ahead of whatever was hot-n-happening in the era. A choice selection of those 20+ highlights is as follows:

2000’s (link hidden) was his first independent release on City Sketches Records through the notorious Orpheus Records (Charles Huggins) featuring Gerald Albright, Marion Meadows and Armsted Christian (RIP).

2002’s dual releases Standing Tall, and The American Spirit on Narada and Shanachie Records were cathartic and ultimately triumphant artistic reactions to the tragic events surrounding the World Trade Center on 9/11 2001, where he performed there just two months prior.

2004’s Brazil Chill was inspired by six weeks spent in Rio de Janiero and Ipanema, and featured Ivan Conti and Alex Malheiros of the acclaimed trio Azymuth, Armando Marcal, Café Da Silva, Andriano Giffoni, Leo Gandelman, Toquarto Mariano, and pianist Marcos Ariel (who played chorinho flute).

2005 delivered an extra shot of his Brazil experience with All in a Day’s Work.

2007 brought the release of his DVD “Live from Croton on the Hudson,” NY, an outdoor festival that drew over 6,000 people overlooking the beautiful Hudson River.

2008’s (link hidden) fused Jazz and Funk with vocals, and featured Jocelyn Brown, Frank McComb, Phil Perry and Freddie Jackson. A 2011 follow-up 2011’s (link hidden) 2 / Re-Vibe featured Glenn Jones and Porter Carroll, Jr.2009’s Lookin' Back reflected on his career back to his first recordings going back to 1988.

Baldwin also released the gospel-jazz missive Never Out of Season and the holiday offering The Gift of Christmas. Beyond his sprawling catalog of recordings, Bob Baldwin has used music to support social causes and to give back to the community.

His internet-only release City Sketches - a disc privately released commemorating the 1996 Olympics - is a musical portrait of the city of Atlanta celebrating the city’s unique history. Violinist Regina Carter so loved "Downtown Underground" that she in turn recorded it on her CD, Something for Grace. Baldwin performed for the athletes at Atlanta's Olympic Games and shared the stage with Roy Ayers and Chuck Loeb at the Club Benson and Hedges Music Festival. Then in 2000, he travelled to South Africa with Marion Meadows for a historical concert.

Baldwin was the Curator of the NewUrbanJazz @ the Arts Exchange in White Plains, NY. Collaborating with ArtsWestchester and the White Plains Youth Bureau, Baldwin presented a workshop that would prepare young people for a career in music. In 2010, his Jazz for Haiti program raised over $60,000.00 for the American Red Cross of Northern New Jersey. And in 2013 he produced the benefit concert "Music for Dave" to assist Latin Jazz legend and stroke victim, flautist Dave Valentin, with funding for his ongoing treatment and rehabilitation. He reached out to Larry Rosen, the original GRP Records owner (RIP), who signed Valentin to his first deal, who contributed to the event.

Wedding his many talents to a fierce streak of conscious independence, Bob Baldwin sees himself as more than just an artist but a human being in control of his destiny and with a legacy of artistic benevolence to pass on.

Partial Rider

Addendum b)
SOUND AND LIGHT REINFORCEMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR BOB BALDWIN

NO SUBSTITUTES CAN BE MADE TO THIS RIDER WITHOUT WRITTEN APPROVAL
BY BOB BALDWIN (phone number hidden)

ALL TERMS AND CONDITION OF THIS RIDER AND ATTACHED ADDENDUMS ARE PART OF THE ATTACHED CONTRACT. PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY. THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS IT CONTAINS ARE ESSENTIAL TO A SUCCESSFUL ENGAGEMENT AND MUST BE COMPLIED WITH. ANY BREACH OF THE TERMS OF THIS RIDER OR THE CONTRACT MAY CAUSE ARTIST TO REFUSE TO PERFORM WITHOUT RELEASING PURCHASER FROM THE OBLIGATION TO PAY THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE CONTRACT. DO NOT MAKE ANY CHANGES OR DELETIONS TO THE RIDER WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE ARTIST's REPRESENTATIVES. ANY SUCH CHANGES WILL NOT BE BINDING UPON ARTIST AND MAY CAUSE PURCHASER TO BE IN BREACH OF THE CONTRACT.

Purchaser is required to provide a sound system that’s used to support a live music performance. This would exclude a professional disc jockey sound system and would include the following sound configurations outlined below.

The sound should be ready for sound check no later than 4 hours before the doors open and normally should take no more than 2 hours if the engineer has fulfilled his requirements. To avoid setup mishaps, we recommend that all equipment is loaded in 8 hours before the doors open and line-input requirements are fully executable prior to sound check to avoid delays.

SOUND CHECK:

1. ARTIST will not perform unless provided with a minimum of one (1) hour sound check, which must be completed before the venue is open to the public. No other band or artist will be allowed to take the stage or move ARTIST'S equipment before ARTIST'S sound check is completed.

2. No one shall be allowed in the venue during sound check other than necessary working personnel and under no circumstances shall photographs be allowed without prior written consent of ARTIST'S representative.

If these time restraints are not adhered to and sound check is not completed at least 1 hour before the doors open, Artist reserves the right to begin the show at a hourly time based on the delay of Sound/Backline company or Contractor, which may occur later than scheduled time without payment penalty to Artist. Sufficient lighting is required, including a roaming headline light to view soloists.

HOUSE SYSTEM:

A) HOUSE MIXING CONFIGURATION (MINIMUM):
1) *32x4x2 (Minimum) mixing desk (Soundcraft, Yamaha, Ramsa, Soundtrax, Hill...)
2) Processing:
• 2 effects processors (minimum) reverb
• ddl
• 6 noise gates
• 2 insertable compressors
• overall system compression
• 1/3 octave eq.
NO MACKIE HOUSE MIXING CONSOLES. NO EXCEPTIONS!

B) MONITOR MIXING CONFIGURATION (MINIMUM):
*24x8 mixing desk (Soundcraft, Yamaha, Soundtrax, TAC) 1/3 octave EQ’s required for each mix w/ active feedback elimination if available. No less than one monitor mix AND speaker per musician on stage. HOUSE KEYBOARD MIX SHOULD BE A STEREO MIX.

C) HOUSE SPEAKER REQUIREMENTS
The speaker system must be capable of delivering a distortion free, full range audio program with an SPL of 115db at 90 meters. An active 3 or 4 way crossover network is required. No Peavey speakers, please.

D) MONITOR SPEAKER CONFIGURATION
Wedge type 15" horn speaker designs w/ active crossovers are preferred. Double monitor for drums and sidefills. Up to 7 independent monitor mixes are required and must be available. Again, no less than one monitor mix AND speaker per musician on stage. No Peavey and no 12’ monitors, please.

E) RECORDING REINFORCEMENT
1 professional DAT machine in professional record ready mode fed directly and cleanly from the board. 1 high-end professional Cassette Player (SONY/Technics/Denon ok).

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Tentative Input List

BACKLINE RIDER FOR BALDWIN

A) DRUM RIDER 6 piece Maple Set (Yamaha)
1) Toms: 8", 10" mounted toms, 14" and 16" floor toms
2) 20" bass drum
3) 15" Snare / 13” Snare
4) Cymbals:
Zildjan A Brilliant series 14" New beat Avedis Hihats
12" Splash 14" and 16" Medium crash
20" Heavy Ride 16" Low China Boy
5) Hardware:
*1 Drum Throne Wide leg Hi-hat Stand
*6 Boom Cymbal Stands

B) KEYBOARDIST RIDER (2 Keyboards)
1 Keyboard #1 *Preferred: YAMAHA MOTIF 8 (XF8)

2) Keyboard #2 Yamaha ORIGINAL Motif 7 (non ES!!)

4) Stand TWO (2) INVISIBLE KEYBOARD STAND (SINGLE-TIER)

5) Microphone: One Wireless Microphone with Boom Stand set Center Stage in front of keyboard.

5) Seating One adjustable Black Drum Throne
6) 3 MIDI CHORDS and 6 ¼” cables
7) RIG SHOULD BE SET UP WITH TWO SPEAKER MONITORS AND THE KEYBOARDS
SHOULD BE ACCOMPANIED WITH 6 DIRECT INPUTS
8) WIRELESS KEYBOARD MIC WITH GOOSENECK MIC STAND

C) PERCUSSION RIDER – PERCUSSION TABLE ONLY!!
(3) LP congas w/stands - (3) 11 3/4" CONGAS 1 QUINTO AND (1) 12 1/2" TUMBA (1) LP BONGO w/ stand (1) PERCUSSION TABLE (5) Cymbal stands
(1) Bar Chime Drum Throne

D) GUITAR RIDER

AMPLIFIER – 1 FENDER DELUXE REVERB (OR 1 FENDER TWIN REVERB)

E) BASS GUITAR RIDER
1) SPEAKERS: Eden Cabinet (4 10" w/ tweeter and one 15” cabinet) 

2) AMPLIFIER: SWR SM400 Bass Amp (Preferred) GK 800 Bass Amp (2nd Preferred)