b. 11 July 1958, Memphis, Tennessee, USA. An accomplished tenor saxophonist, from the mid-80s onwards Whalum has found a lucrative niche playing smooth jazz. Raised in Memphis, he began playing in his father’s church choir before graduating to jazz during high school. He formed his own band while studying at Texas Southern University in Houston, and received his first break when opening for pianist Bob James one evening. James invited Whalum to New York to play on his 1984 set 12. A recording contract with Columbia Records followed, with Whalum releasing five successful albums for their Floppy Disk imprint. In 1996, he collaborated with James on the Grammy-nominated Joined At The Hip, and the following year signed a new contract with Warner Brothers Records. His debut for the label, Colors, was informed by Whalum’s position as president of the Hearts Against Racism & Prejudice (H.A.R.P.) association.
Two contrasting releases, The Gospel According To Jazz, Chapter 1 and the pop covers recording For You, confirmed Whalum’s crossover popularity, with the latter taking up a semi-permanent residency at the top of the US jazz charts. A second gospel release, 2000’s Hymns: In The Garden, earned Whalum another Grammy Award nomination. Whalum continues to receive indifferent reviews in the jazz press with several writers bemoaning what they see as a loss to jazz. However, Whalum’s performances suggest that he has found a way in which to divide his work between the demands of the smooth jazz concept on record and a more emotionally satisfying and soulful style on live dates.
