Bob Baldwin – NewUrbanJazz 3/An UrbanSmooth Suite
Actually, keyboardist Bob Baldwin had not planned a new album after his instrumental album Henna (2020). However, the current initial situation, which largely excludes touring, is quite fruitful for productivity. Accordingly, we can welcome the new album NewUrbanJazz 3/An UrbanSmooth Suite.
It is already his 32nd album and the third in his NewUrbanJazz series. Bob defines this term as A gumbo of contemporary jazz, Urban, R&B and Brazilian/Caribbean genres. The focus of this album is on the vocal element especially from the R&B genre. Bob places increased emphasis on high quality music and the participation of a variety of musicians, as their musical contribution beneficially broadens the creative spectrum. See credits for details.
As is well known, Bob runs his own radio station and so the first song The Urban Smoothsmith makes reference to this fact and his famous predecessors, the radio personalities Frankie Crocker and Pat Prescott. Right away with the song Funk In Da Pocket Bob pushes the funkomometer to the upper limit. Written and interpreted by La-Rita Gaskins the virtuoso singer brings so much energy that the spark literally jumps over.
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