Chris Baum has been a fixture in the Pacific Northwest music scene since his youth as a classical pianist—winning local, regional, and national competitions. Chris attended The Eastman School of Music, Manhattan School of Music, and City College of New York where he studied with jazz legends Ron Carter, Joe Chambers, John Lewis and Larry Willis. Since then, Chris has developed into a soulful singer and pianist, inspired by his idols, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Donald Fagan, Johnny "Guitar" Watson and the many singers from Tower of Power.

Since 1994, Chris has honed his skills as a musical director and arranger to attract 'cream of the crop' talent—achieving illustrious musical goals. (Between 2016-2022, Chris transcribed full scores for horns, vocals, guitar, bass and 2 keyboards for more than 10 sold out regional performances of the Steely Dan Catalog).

The Chris Baum Project is an 11-piece Soul/R&B band. The Chris Baum Project measures its success not only by who is on the dance floor, but by how many people are ‘moving to the music’. Many regular attendees of the Project’s performances are there not only to dance, but to take in the show as a 'concert'—a testament to the band’s ability to entertain on the merits of musical prowess. However, the bottom line is: The Chris Baum Project will make you “dance until you drop!”

There are more than 40 alumni proud to be part of the Baum Sorority/Fraternity, and at nearly every performance former members are in attendance.

“Project” members have performed with local artists, including: Body and Soul, Soul Vaccination (founded by Chris Baum in 1994), Curtis Salgado, Paul Delay, Storm Large, Tom Grant, Jennifer Batten, and Nu Shooz...

. . . and have shared stages with national acts including Boz Scaggs, Anthony Jackson, Ry Cooder, The Drifters, The Chiffons, Cheap Trick, The Temptations, Liv Warfield, Kevin Mahogany, Gino Vannelli, Rick Springfield, Esperanza Spalding and others.

Members include:

Keyboards: Chris Baum

Vocals: Chris Baum, Sherry Alves, Hannah DiMolfetto, Sam McGee

Horns: Pete Peterson, , Buzz Graham, Greg Garrett, Brian Myers

Guitar: Dan Gildea

Drums: Ward Griffiths

Bass: Wyatt Unger

The Chris Baum Project's repertoire covers music from the great Soul and R&B artists of the modern era, and includes songs by Stevie Wonder, Sly and the Family Stone, Dr. John, Steely Dan, Average White Band, Bill Withers, Chicago, Earth, Wind, and Fire, Johnny "Guitar" Watson, Etta James, Michael Jackson, as well as a library of material from Steely Dan and Donald Fagen.