Bob Baldwin

Pianist Bob Baldwin is an adept performer known for his many contemporary jazz albums. Emerging in the 1990s, he drew fans in with smooth releases like 1994’s For You, 2002’s Standing Tall, and 2013’s Twenty, the latter of which hit number three on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart. While original jazz is his main focus, Baldwin’s albums, like 2010’s Never Can Say Goodbye: A Tribute to Michael Jackson and MelloWonder: Songs in the Key of Stevie showcase his love of pop and R&B. Born in 1960 in Mount Vernon, New York, Baldwin was first introduced to the piano around age four by his father, bassist and pianist Robert Baldwin, Sr. By his teens, Baldwin was listening heavily to jazz and R&B. After high school he attended Geneva College, where he earned a business degree, and later even worked as an accountant. However, all the while, he continued developing his music skills and by the ’80s had transferred to a full-time performing and recording career. As a solo artist, he debuted in 1990 with A Long Way to Go, an album that also garnered him the Sony Innovator in Music Award. Buoyed by this early accolade, Baldwin embarked on a successful run of albums including 1992’s Reflections of Love and 1997’s Cool Breeze. An in-demand sideman, he also found work with a bevy of name artists including Marion Meadows, Regina Carter, Will Downing, Pieces of a Dream, and many more. During the early 2000s, Baldwin stayed active, releasing a steady stream of albums, many of which reached the Top 2…