Kirk Whalum is a saxophonist and contemporary jazz musician from Memphis, United States, born in 1958. He works across contemporary jazz, gospel, jazz, pop, quiet storm and smooth jazz.

Career

In 1983, Whalum catches the attention of pianist Bob James and later joins James on the album 12 (1985). With James’s support, he releases his debut album Floppy Disk. By the late 1980s, he begins to build a reputation as a sideman, contributing to recordings by Larry Carlton, Quincy Jones, Luther Vandross, Al Jarreau and others.

He also tours with Whitney Houston, and his saxophone solo on I Will Always Love You is his performance. In 1996, he signs to Warner Bros. Records and releases the collaborative album Joined at the Hip with Bob James.

Projects and releases

Whalum forms BWB with guitarist Norman Brown and trumpeter Rick Braun, and the group releases Groovin' in 2002. He later works with Dave Koz’s label Rendezvous Entertainment and releases Kirk Whalum Performs the Babyface Songbook in 2005. He also reworks The Secret Garden into a six-minute saxophone solo that is widely regarded as one of his best-known recordings.

Label

His labels include Top Drawer Records, and he is also associated with Warner Bros. Records and Rendezvous Entertainment.