2024 release. Saxophone icon Kirk Whalum blasts off with his highly-anticipated album Epic Cool, an electrifying collection of original grooves. Teaming up with producer Greg Manning (Keb' Mo', Herb Alpert, 2x GRAMMY® nominee, composer/collaborator on 10 #1 Billboard hits), Whalum focuses on his songwriting to craft an album that's passionate and spirited on a monumental scale, but with his trademark soul. From danceable hits like "Bah-De-Yah!" to melodic, sultry jams (Whalum calls "Pillow Talk" the strongest song he's written in 20 years), Epic Cool weaves a musical story that has wide, cross-genre appeal. Get ready to groove, because Epic Cool is anything but ordinary.
Over a period of three months in 2018, Kirk and his longtime friend and producer, the British jazz trumpeter and session musician James McMillan, recorded tracks in locations ranging from studios in Jakarta, Tokyo, Paris, Nairobi, Johannesburg and Hastings, to hotel rooms, office buildings and even Kirk's living room in Memphis - tracks that showcase the album's harmonious mix of American jazz, blues, funk, pop along with global indigenous musical forms abound on Humanite.
The parallels of John Coltrane teaming up with Johnny Hartman in 1963 are strikingly similar and yet very different when compared to Kirk Whalums newest recording with his brother Kevin, ROMANCE LANGUAGE. Both are, we feel, among the most romantic jazz albums of their respective eras. Features special guest Hugh "Peanuts" Whalum.
2010 two CD release from the Jazz saxophonist. Kirk Whalum elevates his award winning Gospel According to Jazz series to a new level with a live-recorded double CD set featuring the best in Contemporary Jazz, Gospel and Urban music. This effort, both visually and audibly, demonstrates the deep connections between Gospel and Jazz. It's revised renditions of commonly known tunes socially connect with the listener on a horizontal level that seeks to usher in a vertical spiritual relationship. Features guest appearances from George Duke, Lalah Hathaway, Doc Powell and others.
Legendary saxophonist Kirk Whalum's new studio album, ROUNDTRIP, is a journey through the past, present, and future of his music - featuring new jazz compositions, Fresh re-imaginings of his career-defining hits, and a glimpse at his next innovative musical destination.
Kirk Whalum, one of the greatest living saxophonists of our time, decorated with 7 Grammy nominations and world-wide acclaim, pays tribute to the amazing legacy of Kenny Edmonds, known to the world as the groundbreaking R&B artist, Babyface. The songbook includes many of the greatest modern R&B songs of the last decade, including #1 hits 'I'll Make Love to You', 'Exhale', 'Can We Talk', 'Breathe Again', and 'When Can I See You'. This event album is destined to be the breakout instrumental of 2005-2006. Rendezvous. 2005.
