MusiCast 03.24.08

Kirk Whalum

Memphis To The Bone

For a young boy growing up in Memphis,Tennessee, exposure to Gospel, soul, jazz, and R&B music was inevitable. The difference for Kirk Whalum was that his baptismal into this music happened at the church where his father pastored. Surrounded by a family that was comprised of several professional musicians, Kirk didn’t have to find music...music found him. But, it was the sparkle and shine that first attracted him to his first saxophone. It was jazz great Bob James that first discovered Kirk playing at a gig in Houston, Texas where shortly thereafter, hired him to play one of his solo albums entitled '12.' Today, Whalum humbly tells how divine intervention had a definite hand in his past success and stands on a faith that is clearly contageous. He celebrated his 25 years in the business with the release of his 2007 album 'Roundtrip', and engaged producer Phillippe Saisse, who worked on his first solo album, along with an amazingly great lineup of musicians that included Earl Klugh and many guest musicians who are….ready for this? Family members! Inside MusiCast is happy to welcome a sax virtuoso, Kirk Whalum.

Comments (3)

Great to learn more about this wonderful sax player. His work on the Larry Carlton albums is especially good.

Kirk is definitly one of the best Saxophone players out there.He is a great inspiration for me and my Sax playing,may the lord bless him and his family today and always.

Kirk is the best smooth jazz sax players in the music industry. He can also play some straight ahead jazz as well. The high light of my life was about five years ago when he invited me over to his house in the Nashville area. Listening to him play makes you want to practice harder. Being a tenor sax player myself, I appreciate his smooth sax sound. Kirk is such an inspiration to me because of his witness for his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. To your good friend and brother in Christ, Harold.

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