As the eyes of the world focus on Rio de Janeiro this summer, Red
River Entertainment released a generous 26-song double disc of authentic
Brazilian jazz rhythms and distinctly American R&B grooves on Friday from
keyboardist Bob Baldwin entitled “The Brazilian-American Soundtrack.” The
Grammy-nominated artist had a hand in writing twenty tunes for the collection
that he produced in two movements, Movement I: Rio-Ipanema and Movement II: New
York, that were recorded in Rio, New York City and Atlanta over a three-year
period. The first single that will be serviced to radio stations for airplay is
the pulsating club music meets sultry Latin music blend “Ipanema Fusion.”
“The
Brazilian-American Soundtrack” is Baldwin’s second foray into Brazil expanding
on the territory he mined on his 2004 album, “Brazil Chill.” This time out, he
purposely incorporated more American nuances into the mix. Supplementing his
own compositions, he elected to honor a few of the iconic artists who
influenced his artistic muse including Antonio Carlos Jobim (“Corcovado”), Ivan
Lins (“Anjo De Mim,” “The Island” and “Love Dance”) and Djavan (“Eu Te
Devoro”). Another formative inspiration was Maurice White, the late Earth, Wind
& Fire creator and leader who Baldwin remembers with a heartfelt spoken
word tribute that closes the album, “The Message,” and on two musical numbers,
“Maurice (The Sound Of His Voice)” and “The Greatest Lover,” the latter of
which was recorded in the spirit of White’s hall of fame band. Meticulously
produced, performed, composed and arranged, most of the tracks on “The
Brazilian-American Soundtrack” are tightly segued, maintaining a smooth flow
and graceful transition from cut to cut through more than two hours of
music.
Baldwin’s
winning team that bolsters his pliable piano gymnastics and effervescent
keyboard finesse on “The Brazilian-American Soundtrack” consists of an
international ensemble that includes noted Brazilian and Latin players Café Da
Silva (percussion), Torcuato Mariano (guitar), Rafael Pereira (percussion) and
Armando Marcal (percussion). Canadian trumpeter Gabriel Mark Hasselbach,
veteran saxophonists Marion Meadows and Freddy V, and emerging flutist Ragan
Whiteside add soulful horn solos while guitarists Marlon McClain and Phil
Hamilton contribute compelling runs throughout the date that showcases a
handful of charismatic vocalists: James “Crab” Robinson, Porter Carroll II,
Gigi, Zoiea Ohizep as well as Baldwin himself. In fact, Baldwin demonstrates
remarkable dexterity by singing lead and background as well as playing piano,
Rhodes, keyboards, bass, drums, percussion, Moog bass, Melodica, strings and
clave on the album.
“My love for
Brazilian music runs deep. It started with the infiltration of samba in the
1960s courtesy of Stan Getz, who brought with him Astrud Gilberto and the
legendary Antonio Carlos Jobim. So many other American artists have embraced
Brazil, including Quincy Jones, who signed Ivan Lins to his publishing company,
and Djavan, who I refer to as "The Brazilian Sade", who goes as far back
as 1973 when he sang on a Stevie Wonder track. There are so many others - like
Maurice White, Ramsey Lewis and George Duke - who all caught the Brazilian
music bug and were hooked,” said Baldwin, who made the record in part via
crowdfunding for which a number of unique opportunities remain available
(www.pledgemusic.com/bobbaldwin). “Musicians like Cafe da Silva, Armando
Marcal, Torcuato Mariano, Delia Fisher and Rafael Pereira give the tracks on
‘The Brazilian-American Soundtrack’ authenticity and the green light to deliver
the sound of Brazil to the project.”
A Mount
Vernon, New York native who has become a longtime resident of Atlanta, Baldwin
debuted in 1988 with “I’ve Got A Long Way to Go” and his 22 albums – eight of
which climbed into the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Top 20 – are jazz, R&B
and gospel outings. Over the years, he’s worked as a producer, songwriter and
performer alongside George Benson, Gerald Albright, Euge Groove, Will Downing,
Phil Perry, Pieces of a Dream, Paul Taylor, Rick Braun, Kirk Whalum and Chuck
Loeb. Since 2008, he has hosted the nationally syndicated radio program “The
NewUrbanJazz Lounge,” which attracts nearly 500,000 listeners weekly. His City
Sketches, Inc. is the umbrella entity that houses a production and event
planning company, the radio network and NewUrbanJazz Hats. Baldwin is also the
author of two books about the music industry, “You Better Ask Somebody” and
“Staying On Top of Your Career in the ‘Friggin’ Music Business.” For more
information, please visit www.BobBaldwin.com.
“The
Brazilian-American Soundtrack” contains the following songs:
Movement I:
Rio-Ipanema
“Funky Rio”
"Ipanema
Fusion” featuring Café Da Silva
"Teardrop”
featuring Ragan Whiteside
”Caipirinha”
featuring Torcuato Mariano
“Corcovado”/”The
Redeemer” featuring Torcuato Mariano
“Greatest
Lover” featuring Zoiea
“Boa Noite”
“Lookin’ At
Me” featuring Gigi
“Anjo De
Mim”
“The Island”
featuring Leo Gandelman
“Eu Te
Devoro”
“Oasis Of
Love”
“Love
Dance/May I Have This Dance?”
“Children Of
The Sun”
Movement II:
New York
“Home From
Work”
“Maurice
(The Sound Of His Voice”)
“My Soul”
featuring Marion Meadows
“For You”
featuring Porter Carroll II
“Summer
Madness” featuring James “Crab” Robinson
“Yesterday”
featuring Freddie V
“South Of
The Border”
“Mobile
& Global” featuring Gabriel Mark Hasselbach
“Summer’s
Over”
“I Need The
Air (You Breathe)”
“State Of
Mind”
“The Message
(A Maurice White Tribute)”
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