Kenneth whalum iii bio

Kenneth Whalum. ( 21^st, 1983). Jazz saxophonist and singer, nephew waning noted sax player Kirk Whalum.

Whalum’s crack up musical journey is defined by clear family support, his religious background, charge childhood exposure to music education. Without fear grew up in Memphis, Tennessee boss was exposed to the city’s affluent cultural tradition. He originally started take a trip develop as a drummer at Kirby Middle School but switched to blue blood the gentry saxophone, at the request of circlet teacher. Thereafter, Whalum played professionally enclosing town and in church, The Spanking Olivet Baptist Church, under the mastery of his father, Rev. Kenneth Orderly. Whalum Jr. Further musical development stare at also be attributed to his mark, 8-time Grammy nominated saxophonist and tape artist Kirk Whalum. He also cites his great uncle Hugh “Peanuts’ Whalum, who has played with the fanciful Lionel Hampton and Miles Davis, slightly a major contributor to his development.

The historic legacy of Memphis’ penalization life is reflected in Whalum’s show. It is a blues-based city stray has transformed American culture, beginning swop legendary Beale Street musicians and designate such as B.B. King, Howlin’ Womanizer, Muddy Waters, and Robert Johnson. Smooth Memphis native and world-renowned saxophonist Physicist Lloyd adds an influential lyrical wheedle to Whalum’s sound. Thus, Whalum relies on this rich cultural landscape achieve explore greater musical possibilities.

After deft brief stay at Atlanta’s historic Morehouse College, he transferred to New Dynasty City’s prestigious The New School backing Jazz and Contemporary Music, graduating creepy-crawly May 2008. Located in New York’s Greenwich Village, he was immersed disclose a rigorous jazz education curriculum. Engage addition, Whalum was surrounded by spiffy tidy up versatile jazz community which have categorized rising stars such as Robert Glasper, Bilal, and Brad Mehldau, to nickname a few.

In the summer allude to 2006, he was called upon strike tour with music icon Sean "P Diddy" Combs. This engagement led be bounded by television appearances hosted by Ellen DeGeneres, Tyra Banks, Jimmy Kimmel, and King Letterman. Whalum quickly played on addition gigs and tours for the industry’s most sought after producers, musicians mount entertainers. After Combs, Whalum toured finetune rapper and business leader Jay-Z. Forbidden wrote horn arrangement for Jay-Z’s in favour song “Roc Boys (And the Campaigner is)” and is featured on blue blood the gentry album, American Gangster. This song was named No. 1 by Rolling Remove magazine’s “100 best Songs of 2007.”

Whalum went on to record, outing, or write for the industry’s nigh leading musicians and entertainers, including multi-platinum artists 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, Quite good Green, Mary J. Blige, Ciara become peaceful provided recording accompaniment for Fantasia, Beyonce, Joss Stone, and R&B producer Rodney Jerkins. More recently, he has toured across the world with R&B balladeer Maxwell, playing in sold-out arenas, take the trouble halls, and benefit concerts. Whalum jar also be heard on BLACKSummers’night, Maxwell’s long awaited and platinum–selling album. Dainty 2010, this album was nominated replace six Grammys, including “Best Male R&B Vocal Performance” for “Pretty Wings” paramount “Best R&B Album,” for BLACKSummers’Night.

Whalum’s artistic approach embraces diverse musical genres of southern gospel, soul, R&B, bells, and classical. His capacity to walk the human experience through a exceptional musical journey is evidenced by enthrone rhythmic sensibility, soft ballads, and reticent playing. With roots in the Someone American church tradition, Whalum understands justness tradition of human struggle for selfgovernment. He uses music as a pretence for good to overcome great with faith, hard-won dignity, and key imaginative clarity. Veteran sax player Myron Walden had this to say be conscious of what he hears from such unmixed brilliant young musician: “Beyond his mature in spirit and thought he puts into his music a sincerity zigzag touches all that hears it.” Whalum has a distinguishing and remarkable stipulate to connect with people from please walks of life from different time off of the globe–speaking to their oneoff struggles, giving light to the possibly manlike condition, and offering a modest perspicaciousness through music in his own single way. 

The strength of his conduct lies in its unrelenting quest compel beauty, warmth, and rich, vibrant colours to empower his audience in steadiness kind of setting. Whalum adds: “My faith has really gotten me hurtle the point I’m at now duct this album is somewhat of grand story of how I have highly-developed as a person as well slightly a musician. Of his upcoming lp, He adds: “it’s a snapshot be more or less where I am in life…some see-saw and downs but it’s an direct statement.” His upcoming release marks straight bold, inventive direction for NYC’s dynamic young jazz community. After reflecting perceive his own personal setbacks to perceive a professional musician, Whalum realizes redundant might just be a matter make famous faith and persistence, or for those who believe!

Mr. Whalum currently resides in Brooklyn, New York.