Roberta Baum's vocal improvisational skills have won her critical acclaim in Downbeat and Musician Magazine. She has performed amongst some of the most prestigious Jazz legends in the world including Ornette Coleman, Kenny Barron, Anthony Davis and Fred Hersch. Roberta Baum is a grant recipient of The National Endowment for The Arts and Meet The Composer for her work composing music for theater, dance and television, including the Erick Hawkins Dance Company and Lifetime Television Intimate Portraits.
Prior to that Roberta had already made her way into the upper echelon of performing arts in New York. As a graduate of The High School Performing Arts and the Neighborhood Playhouse she was key to the genesis of experimental theater throughout the 1970's, an actress in the Broadway hit Godspell and member of the National Tour troupe of The Who's renowned rock opera Tommy.
Roberta had been especially drawn to the linguistic freestyle that is often explored in jazz music, as in the vocal improvisation of Ella Fitzgerald and Betty Carter. Later influenced by Middle Eastern and Mediterranean sounds, by the mid 80's Roberta began applying these styles to her own angle of world-pop music. Over the past several decades Roberta Baum has mesmerized audiences from across the world with performances at music festivals, conferences and spiritual centers. She continues to record original music devoted to inspire and awaken spiritual rebirth for our planetary evolution in consciousness.
“Roberta Baum's vocal abilities are by no means defined by her extraordinary jazz techniques; she absolutely excels as a progressive pop and world music singer. Her recordings are a blend of intricate, tasteful, melodic compositions, with a decidedly mysterious and exotic edge. By achieving that rare alchemy of intelligence and sexuality, Roberta's crossover appeal to a broad spectrum of audiences presents tantalizing possibilities.” Charles Sanders / Harry Fox Agency
MUSICIAN MAGAZINE
“ There is an underground of female jazz singers in New York; strong, often inspiring vocalists who float just beneath the surface of public recognition in the Stygian netherworld of the lofts, clubs and cabarets. I’m thinking of women like the redoubtable Shelia Jordan and the legendary Abbey Lincoln. Add to that list Brooklyn born Roberta Baum. Baum is one of the most fascinating vocal stylists to emerge in many years, with an exceptional feeling for rhythm and textures and a commanding sense of swing. There is humor in her singing too, but of a more sardonic nature. Like Abby Lincoln, she has great theatrical presence - relying more on subtle rendering of the lyrics than on diva’s chops-and often interjects conversational tones and cadences into her choruses, going more for the emotional effect than the scale tones of the song. Its always music because she has an uncanny way of modulating into neighboring key centers, like she did on a unique rendering of “My Favorite Things” sounding more like the illegitimate daughter of Fanny Brice and Miles Davis than Coltrane. Whenever she went outside, pianist Davis was with her every step of the way with Wynton Kellyish chord movements and bouncing clusters. On “Like Someone In Love“ she dueted with the fine bassist Mark Helias, hanging on to slightly vinegary long tones and letting the chords gradually catch up to her; then calling in master drummer Ed Blackwell with a vibrating elastic shriek, she took a series of occasionally wordless choruses that escalated into a percussive conversation- her ear for drum patterns alone sets her a notch above most singers. And in the tradition of the great jazz vocalists, Baum can make a ballad bleed, as she and Davis did on Duke Ellington’s lovely composition “Heaven.“
Chip Stern
“Endlessly suggestive and inventive, sensual and energetic, Roberta Baum breathes with a musical verve that evokes a fiery lust for freedom we may have forgotten we have. Whether onstage or in the studio, she brings listeners a refreshing new look at the future of music.” Hartford Press
“Anyone listening to Roberta Baum can hear the astonishing vocal range, power and complexity of her voice. As a composer she music invites us to experience and cherish our connection to nature and the greater spiritual mysteries of life.” WNCW Radio
“Luminous sounds and a dazzling vocal range! You can count on Roberta Baum's divine renditions of jazz classics by great composers such as George Gershwin, Duke Ellington, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin and Leonard Bernstein. Do not miss this opportunity to hear intimate vocal jazz delivered by one of Asheville's most distinctive vocalists.” Mountain Xpress
“Baum captivates audiences with unusual phrasing, repertoire choices and otherworldly sounds that call to mind ancient languages. She brings a sense of forward-looking adventure to jazz standards and Broadway show tunes.” Citizen Times NC
"Luminous! Roberta Baum's soul blows musical kisses to her enraptured audience. Her mesmerizing stage presence combine with her spiritually empowering lyrics uplift her listeners into Heaven's Secret Garden. Her musical style is an enchanting bridge between East & West, Ancient & Modern - spanning Mediterranean, Vedic, and Celtic sacred traditions. Do your Self a big favor: go hear this lady sing."
Alan McRae, Sunrise Entertainment International
“Roberta Baum's author debut is a work of visionary fiction. Angels and Witchess is saturated with life affirming magic, humor and romance. It is a fascinating, memorable tale that stays with you long after you have finished reading. Can't wait for the movie! ”
— Teresa Hammack