Henna (2020) (Download today)
Composer/pianist Bob Baldwin is not only recognized for his superb jazz piano artistry, but also his talent in composing and arranging for famous colleagues. In this polished recording HENNA (defined as The powdered leaves of a tropical shrub, used as a dye to color the hair and decorate the body…) his respect for the truly natural and organic
Composer/pianist Bob Baldwin is not only recognized for his superb jazz piano artistry, but also his talent in composing and arranging for famous colleagues. In this polished recording HENNA (defined as The powdered leaves of a tropical shrub, used as a dye to color the hair and decorate the body…) his respect for the truly natural and organic feeling of music shines forth. As he has stated, “The beauty of our earth produces so many great and prosperous things. In fact, people have actually lived off of the virtues of this beautiful earth for thousands of years.”
For this, his 31st offering, Bob introduces some of the most casually sophisticated jazz sounds on records! The instrumentation/arrangements sparkle and the variation of tones and moods spread across the gamut, at times paying homage to his favorite contemporary pianists George Duke and Joe Sample – both now deceased.
The ensemble is Bob Baldwin -piano, keyboards, vocals, bass, drums, and vocorder, Café Da Silva – percussion, Tony Lewis – drums, Dave Anderson – bass, Lori Williams - lead vocals, Ragan Whiteside – flutes, Dennis Johnson – additional drums Brooke Alford - violin, Marion Meadows, Walter Beasley and Fred Vigdor - saxophone, Tom Browne, Joey Sommerville and Barry Danielian - trumpet, Rohn Lawrence - rhythm guitar, U-Nam, Nils, and Chris Harris – guitar, Marcus Anderson - talk box (on chorus), Jorel “J-Fly” Flynn – drums, and Tres Gilbert – bass,
The tracks are I Heard You Twice (The First Time), In The Print, Sorry (Not Sorry), Henna, Food For Thought, A Brazilian Love Affair, No Longer Lost, Long Weekend (See You On Tuesday), Keep Movin’, Club Life, Fly Breeze, In The Moment, Club Life (Smooth Radio Version), and Long Weekend (See You On Tuesday) (Radio Exit).
This is some of the finest ensemble jazz around – the talent of Bob Baldwin is extraordinary.
Review by Grady Harp (Amazon) Date: February 20