Her mother studied piano and trombone at Juilliard and her parents often took her to New York City for jazz concerts.
She received a master's degree in jazz composition from the Manhattan School of Music and became part of the faculty in 2007.
She has taught at the New School in New York City and given private lessons and workshops on composition, improvisation, and jazz flute.
[2] In 1999 she founded the Jamie Baum Septet with Ralph Alessi, George Colligan, and Jeff Hirshfield.
She went on tour in Asia, Europe, and South America as a member of the jazz ambassadors program sponsored by the State Department.