Jaime Baum New Album: What Times Are These

Jamie Baum took these poems and composed music using the poems for lyrics. Upon sending Bill Moyers my CD, he emailed me and offered this quote:

 …your latest CD (What Times Are These) is a masterpiece of sound and spirit. - Bill Moyers

The Jamie Baum Septet+ What Times Are These made several “The Best Albums of 2024” lists including: DownBeat, JazzTimes (inaugural relaunch issue), PopMatters, Boston Globe, All About Jazz, All About Jazz (Italy), Textura, The ArtsFuse, Musings on Music, Notes on Jazz, etc.

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CD Review: Jamie Baum – What Times Are These

Jamie Baum’s What Times Are These is a deeply introspective and profoundly moving work, combining her virtuosic flute performance with evocative poetry, intricate arrangements, and a stellar lineup of collaborators. This album offers a rare synthesis of jazz and literary artistry, demonstrating Baum’s ability to create not just music, but an immersive narrative experience.

This album offers a rare synthesis of jazz and literary artistry, demonstrating Baum’s ability to create not just music, but an immersive narrative experience.

The album opens with “In the Light of Day,” a bright, exploratory piece featuring Baum and trumpeter Jonathan Finlayson. Their interplay is a study in contrast—light and shade, reflection and forward motion. Baum’s flute weaves through the texture with clarity, setting the stage for the album’s emotional and intellectual depth.

“To Be of Use,” inspired by Marge Piercy’s poem, takes a thoughtful turn, with Baum delivering the spoken word herself. Brad Shepik’s guitar solo and Luis Perdomo's piano are both meditative and restless, capturing the essence of Piercy’s celebration of purposeful labor. Similarly, Tracy K. Smith’s “An Old Story” provides a foundation for one of the album’s standout tracks. Aubrey Johnson’s ethereal vocals, paired with Baum’s layered arrangement, create a sonic journey that is both otherworldly and grounded in the themes of resilience and renewal.

The inclusion of poets like Adrienne Rich, Lucille Clifton, and Naomi Shihab Nye underscores the album’s themes of social consciousness and personal reflection. “My Grandmother in the Stars,” dedicated to Edie Baum, is especially striking, with Sara Serpa’s haunting vocals and Sam Sadigursky’s sensitive clarinet lines. Baum’s ability to intertwine familial homage with broader humanistic themes makes this track a highlight.

The album closes with “In The Day of Light,” a luminous, flute-driven piece that feels like an exhale—a moment of clarity after a profound journey. Luis Perdomo’s piano solo adds depth and balance, leaving the listener both contemplative and uplifted.

For those who appreciate works that balance technical brilliance with profound artistry, What Times Are These is essential listening. Baum’s synthesis of music and poetry is masterful, offering both solace and a call to action in a world grappling with uncertainty. Her vision resonates deeply, making this album a significant contribution to contemporary jazz.

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