The Pulse of Entertainment: New Kirk Whalum Album ‘Epic Cool' Features Doc Powell and Greg Manning
(June 21, 2024) - "In fact, that's the theme of the record...living
in that cool," said Grammy winning saxophonist Kirk Whalum (Whitney Houston) about the title
to his newest album release "Epic Cool" (Mack Avenue Music Group/Artistry Music). "Haven
been through stuff and survived at this stage of life...its different...the coolest thing."
The eleven-song project is co-produced by two-time Grammy nominated keyboardist Greg Manning (Herb Albert)
and features Grammy nominated guitarist Doc Powell (Aretha Franklin); Andrea Lisa (vocalist/guitarist); drummer Marcus Finnie
(Jonathan Butler); bass player Andrew Ford; vibraphonist Nick Mancini, and The Kirk Whalum Band. Kirk also had assistance
from his son Kyle Whalum (‘The Voice' house band) on bass, his nephews Kameron (Bruno Mars) on trombone and Kenneth,
III (Beyonce) on tenor sax.
"Andrea' Lisa," said Kirk when I asked who the beautiful vocals, I heard on the album,
were from. "She's from South Africa."
Whalum is an ordained minister at the Memphis Calvary Episcopal Church, for those who
did not know, with a master's in religion. His "Gospel According to Jazz" series of projects are his music ministry.
This "Epic Cool" project is his first traditional Jazz album in five years.
"After the pandemic I found myself unable to move forward," 12-time Grammy nominated Kirk admitted. "Then
I connected with Greg."
Greg Manning sent Kirk some music and the "Epic Cool" album was the result. Whalum's
project is to say we made it through the pandemic and that's an epically cool thing.
"I tour on the weekends," Whalum
told me when I asked if because of his popularity whether he is constantly on tour." I was just out the country (Paris)...use
to live in Paris."
Kirk Whalum said he has been touring on weekends for over 30 years. This does not include his early
days touring seven years with Whitney Houston or touring with Luther Vandross. He also collaborates on the BWB albums with
Norman Brown (guitar) and Rick Braun (trumpeter). The sax legend has worked with Barbra Streisand, Quincy Jones, Al Jarreau,
and Keiko Matsui.
"I truly believe instrumental artists have superpowers...(music) enters a person's soul and once we in
there our desire is...to deliver something of value," Kirk pointed out as we discussed spirituality.
You can see the magnificent performance that saxophonist Kirk Whalum always gives while he is on tour and
perhaps hear some of the tracks on "Epic Cool" album. As I write this, he is performing at the Blues Alley Club
in Washington, DC. He goes next to Minato, Japan June 26 -27, 2024; Indiana at the Jazz Kitchen July 26 - 28th; Long Beach,
CA at the Long Beach Jazz Festival on August 11th with the Braxton Brothers; Detroit at the Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre on
August 21st with Alex Bugnon; in Milwaukee at the Pabst Theatre on August 23rd; in Cleveland at the Cain Park Evans Amphitheatre
on August 31st, and in New Orleans at the Orpheum Theatre on September 27th with Donald Harrison. www.MackAvenue.com www.KirkWhalum.com
SYNDICATED
COLUMN: Dr. Eunice Moseley has an estimated weekly readership of over one million with The
Pulse of Entertainment. She is also a Public Relations and Business Management Strategist and Consultant at
Freelance Associates, and is Promotions Director (at-large) for The Baltimore Times. www.ThePulseofEntertainment.com EVENTS: "Uplifting Minds II" Entertainment Conference (ULMII),
founded by Eunice in 1999, is into its 25th year. Next events are coming to Baltimore via Zoom Saturday
April 20, 2024, presented by Security Square Mall and The Baltimore Times, and Los
Angeles via Zoom Saturday, November 9 2024. The ULMII event is a free entertainment conference
offering a Professional Industry Panel Q&A Session, a Professional Talent Showcase and National
Talent Competition (vocal, songwriting, dance and acting) where aspiring artists have a chance to receive over $19,000
valued in prizes/product/services. Log onto www.UpliftingMinds2.comor to RSVP for Zoom Access at EventBrite.com or email info@ThePulseofEntertainment.com.
