Last Friday, May 17, award-winning Memphis-born jazz saxophonist Kirk Whalum released his much-awaited new record: "Epic Cool," now out via Mack Avenue Music Group/Artistry Music. The album arrived shortly after the release of its latest advanced single: "Well Alright."
About 'Epic Cool' and Its Tracks
Whether blazing trails in contemporary jazz or through infusing extra jolts of soul in hits by industry giants like Luther Vandross or Whitney Houston, the Grammy Award-winning saxophonist has helped artists and listeners alike across generations define what is "cool."
"Epic Cool," the release of which marks five years after Whalum's last studio album, is another tier of musicality that the instrumentalist has achieved, scaling up the hipness, vitality, soulfulness, and vibes to a monumental level.
The last of this pack of soulful tracks to arrive was Whalum's groovy "Well Alright," centered around a singalong chorus that is akin to that of crowd-beloved hits from Donny Hathaway or Cannonball Adderley and Joe Zawinul's "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy."
The artist's latest cut offers an infusion of soundscapes hailing from that era filled with the timeless late-night swagger that keeps the parties of that time sailing high.
Feel for that vibe yourself and listen to "Well Alright" right below.
As for the other tracks on the album, each one touches upon different parts of Whalum's expansive career, from his Grammy-nominated collaboration with pianist Bob James to his faith-and-soul melding "Gospel According to Jazz Series, and even his trio of joint records with supergroup BWB, guitarist Norman Brown, and trumpeter Rick Braun.
The collection was kicked off by his funky lead single: "Bah-De-Yah!," which was followed up by the smooth melodies and soaring balladry of "You & Sunday Morning." "Crusaderation," on the other hand, pays tribute to one of Whalum's key influences, the Jazz Crusaders R&B group.
As for the record's hard-hitter, Whalum considers it to be "Pillow Talk," which he also describes as the strongest track he has penned in the last two decades. The song itself is a sultry finger-snapping number that explores the full spectrum of romance.
Finally, there's "Kori," a tender song dedicated to Whalum's daughter that lovingly depicts the special relationship between father and daughter especially as she grows into a parent herself.
You can now stream "Epic Cool" on all major platforms by clicking here. You can also sample all of its tracks right below.
