Contemporary Jazz Keyboard Recording Artist and Host of "NewUrbanJazz" Celebrates 10 Years as Radio Host, 30 years as Recording Artist

In 2010, the AAPRC Network was delighted to offer "NewUrbanJazz", hosted by Baldwin to public radio stations nationwide. After initially focusing exclusively on News/Talk shows, "NewUrbanJazz" became the very first music program distributed by the AAPRC. Prior to that however, he launched the program on WVSU, WJAB, WFSK, WVAS and WNAA on October 1, 2008, and with that, this will mark his 10th year on the air.

On January 8, 1988, he released his first disc, "I've Got a Long Way To Go" on the now defunct Malaco Jazz label, and 22 additional cd's later, he still goes on strong.

The native New Yorker made clear his enthusiasm about joining a network providing African-American content to public media. The success of his show opened the door for the many music shows we now distribute.

"NewUrbanJazz" is a fusion of Contemporary Jazz mixed with Brazilian and Urban flavors. Baldwin uses his knowledge of music and his experience as a touring jazz artist to share his back-office personal anecdotes about his fellow musicians in the U.S. and abroad, his celebration of jazz trailblazers, and his excitement about the new music being produced today.

As a radio host, Bob Baldwin is quite a unique blend of someone who has worked in both the music business and the media for decades.  He learned about jazz music when in kindergarten from his father, Robert Baldwin, so it's been in his blood since his childhood.  "Learning about legends like Oscar Peterson and Herbie Hancock at age 5 almost blew my "kiddie" mind, but I think it actually strengthened my mathematical development." But he was bitten by the radio bug as a young adult, and it's been an important part of his life ever since.

After cutting his radio teeth at his college radio station, Bob became an intern at Inner City Broadcasting (New York City) in 1981, where he was mentored by the legendary Frankie Crocker (WBLS) in music program hosting, and Pat Prescott (WLIB) in producing the news. Following that, he worked for three years at New York's news station, WINS.

  

But music was calling him, and he set out to launch his recording career in earnest.  His first CD, "I've Got a Long Way to Go" was recorded in 1988, and released on Malaco Records in 1989.  The CD won first place in the Sony Innovators Award competition that year, handpicked by Roberta Flack.  His music career was off and running.  But radio was not done with him.

Between 1999 and 2007 Bob worked at AAPRC member station WCLK-FM in Atlanta, and commercial  stations WJSJ in Jacksonville, FL, and Radio One's WJZZ, also in Atlanta.  During this period he witnessed first hand the demise of smooth jazz stations in commercial radio, not only as a broadcaster but as one of the many jazz artists impacted.  Like many aficionados of the genre, Bob cites the "dummying down" of smooth jazz playlists by broadcasting conglomerates for its commercial demise.     

Hence in 2008, Bob took constructive action; He created his own Contemporary Jazz music show, "NewUrbanJazz", described by Baldwin as  "... our own diverse brand of jazz, as diverse as the crowds we play for all over the world." He continues, "While super-radio conglomerates are falling by the wayside... the universe is looking for something substantial from creative people, something we are all capable of delivering, that is, if we just push the envelope just a little harder, deeper and further into other media arenas, in some of which we are clearly overlooked."

Prior to joining the AAPRC Network, "NewUrbanJazz" originally launched on five public radio stations: WJAB (Huntsville, AL), WFSK (Nashville, TN), WNAA (Greensboro, NC), WVAS (Montgomery, AL) and WVSU (Birmingham, AL).  Since becoming a show in the AAPRC line-up in 2010, carriage has increased to over 30 stations nationwide.

This week, Bob celebrated 30 years as a recording artist (January 8th). He'll continue

 celebrating thislandmark throughout his 2018 touring season. He also plans to release

several re-mixed/re-mastered recordings, starting with "Never Can Say Goodbye", A Tribute to Michael Jackson, which debuted in Billboard's top-20 jazz releases in 2017.  Still, he finds time to listen to new music, and produce new show episodes week after week.

Through his partnership with the AAPRC, Baldwin hopes to continue to share with audiences,"... the multi-faceted sides of jazz that so many commercial stations have either neglected or failed to acknowledge". For listeners, that means a sophisticated palette of contemporary music that reflects the diverse culture we live in today.