Bob Baldwin

" Never Can Say Goodbye" - Tribute to Michael Jackson

June 25th, 2009 was the day the music world was rocked by the tragic death of Michael Jackson. A year after his passing, we celebrate the life of the King of Pop with the release of “Never Can Say Goodbye.” It is the fitting title of contemporary jazz pioneer, pianist/arranger Bob Baldwin's thoughtful collection of past to present Jackson hits. "Never Can Say Goodbye" also speaks to the sentiment felt by millions of fans worldwide.

A special radio tribute and promotion was aired for broadcast on June 25th across the satellite and internet jazz radio spectrum, including Baldwin's own "NewUrbanJazz Lounge" program.

Having received the blessing of the Jackson Estate, and as a follow up to previous Jackson hits, “Never Can Say Goodbye” is the first jazz record to pay homage to Jackson, himself. Baldwin personally handpicked collections of Jackson classics, and served them up "Baldwin Style." The selections include, "I'll Be There”, Jackson/McCartney hit, “This Girl Is Mine”, featuring a lovely Steve Oliver guitar/scat solo (the first on record), as well as the laid-back and soul-drenched Temperton classic, “Lady In My Life” (from the "Thriller" vaults). The funky side is also covered with unique touches on “Bad”, the Gamble and Huff classic, “Let Me Show You The Way To Go”, and the highly infectious title track, "Never Can Say Goodbye, featuring a cameo appearance from new Fourplay guitarist, Chuck Loeb. "She's Out of My Life" gets the Nashville treatment, with the soulful guitar riffs ushered in by special staple Chieli Minucci. The personal Baldwin tribute "Prodigious" is soulful and sensitive, much like his approach to the entire project, while "Never Can Say Goodbye" is haunting and reflective.

Baldwin is not a late comer to the fanfare of Jackson. "In 2000, it was time to give MJ his kudos," says the New York native. "I grew up listening to "Never Can Say Goodbye" as a kid and watching the J5 on the Ed Sullivan Show. So in between listening to Duke Ellington and Miles Davis, Michael was in the fabric of my musical pop life." Baldwin also added, "Quincy Jones really elevated his sense of harmony and you heard it in his later work."

Baldwin also released "I Wanna Be Where You Are" in 2004 after recording the song in Ipanema with some of his Brazilian compadres, so in many ways, the seed was already planted.

"A week or so following Michael's death, my associate Brenda Hazel suggested I just finish the MJ project and we go full circle. We had to get the business straight
however, so getting the Jackson Estate blessing was a real honor," said Baldwin.

The collaboration with my Record Company Trippin' N Rhythm fully supported this project and made it happen. Which, according to Baldwin is also a huge honor. Baldwin is no stranger to tributes and garners kudos to his second Haiti effort, the "2010 Jazz For Haiti" benefit concert which has led to a worldwide collaboration with the American Red Cross to further assist that tragedy.

“Never Can Say Goodbye” should do well to invigorate Baldwin’s massive legion of fans across the world as he continues to look forward, but not without keeping an eye on and honoring those who have influenced his past. It's the "Feel Good" album of 2010, indeed!

 

CHART ACTIVITY:
BILLBOARD: Debuted #14-Jazz Charts


TESTIMONIAL AND REVIEWS:


JAZZREVIEW.COM
"A year to the day since the untimely death of Michael Jackson, contemporary jazz writer, producer and keyboard player Bob Baldwin mounted his own tribute to the great man. Out on the Trippin' N Rhthm label, his CD "Never Can Say Goodbye" is the first jazz record to pay homage to Jackson. It speaks directly to the sentiment felt by millions of fans worldwide and when I recently spoke to Bob from his home in Westchester County, NY I first asked him what had motivated him to compile this stunning anthology."


SCOTT OBRIEN - SMOOTHJAZZ.COM
"Michael Jackson will be an adored pop music icon forever, and keyboardist Bob Baldwin is one of the most respected musicians in contemporary jazz. Is it any wonder that Bob's lastest project, 'NEVER CAN SAY GOODBYE - A TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL JACKSON' has taken off like a bullet on the SmoothJazz.com chart?"


JEFF WINBUSH/POSITIVELYMICHAEL.COM
"Baldwin interprets Jackon in a pretty straightforward and direct manner, with few frills or unnecessary flourishes. Another artist might have overly embellished the material with strings, horns, a battery of overdubbed keyboards, vocalists and other trappings; instead, Baldwin lets the music do the talking, and guest appearances by guitarists Steve Oliver, Chieli Minnucci and Chuck Loeb, along with trumpeter Joey Sommerville, add subtle but not showy contributions. Loeb-the newly recruited replacement for Larry Carlton In Fourplay-shines especially on 'Never Can Say Goodbye'."

GEORGE STRAND/ THE URBAN MUSIC SCENE
"Bob Baldwin may have seen the future into the making of this record when he last revisited Mr. Jackson's 'Never Can Say Goodbye' on the disc 'BobBaldwin.com' in
2000. I bet he will be scratching his cheeks as he reads this..."

SMOOTH JAZZ DAILY
Bob Baldwin is one of the top five keyboardist of smooth jazz. In my review of SmoothJazzDaily.Com. I sketched up his long way to success. Summarized: A strong light casts a deep shadow. But Bob always looks straight forward to the summit. Logically he focused now on the music of Michael Jackson. The story of Michael Jackson is told and the best way to remember his work is to create a cover album of his greatest hits..."
 

FAN TESTIMONIALS:

P. BOND "PERRY L. BOND"- MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE U.S.:
This review is from "Never Can Say Goodbye" (Audio CD)
"I just finished listening to Bob Baldwin's latest project, 'Never Can Say Goodbye';
A Tribute To Michael Jackson'. One word describes this CD, "exceptional." While most "tribute" CDs leave jazz fans disappointed, this CD elevates your enjoyment of great jazz. Bob's unique style is evident throughout this CD. The only other comment to make is: Bob take a bow for this exceptional CD. The King Of Pop would be proud.

S.BROWN "STEVIE B"- PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY:

"I purchased this CD the day before the first anniversary of Michael Jackson's transition. I thorougly enjoyed the disc, particularly the track selection, which included some of the less-familiar tunes form Michael's catalog, and the fact that although the songs mostly stayed true to the orginal melodies, there was a lot of improvisation. And

Bob Baldwin's original tunes fit just fine with the covers.