KIRK WHALUM The Gospel According to Jazz, Chapter III For yours is the kingdom, the victory and the majesty, the power and dominion, for all that is in heaven and earth are yours…1 Chronicles 29:11a On October 13, 2007, at Reid Temple AME Church on the outskirts of Washington DC, a standing room only audience packed the 3000-plus capacity state-of-the-art worship complex to experience the transforming power of Kirk Whalum’s The Gospel According to Jazz, Chapter III. Recorded live by three generations of Whalums and some of the most resounding names in jazz, pop, gospel and r&b;, The Gospel According to Jazz, Chapter III comes ten years after the first chart-topping Gospel According to Jazz, Chapter I CD debuted, and in the wake of the Grammy nominated, Stellar Award winning second chapter, released in 2002. The two-disk set, plus DVD, is the most expansive in the series in terms of sheer minutes of music, 118.35 to be exact, but also in terms of content and concept. From the first plaintive note in “Call to Worship,” it is clear that this will be far more than an extension or installment of what came before. Kirk Whalum and company blow the roof off with subtlety, nuance, inspired performances and a message of faith, hope and love that both encompasses and transcends every point on the musical compass. The accompanying DVD makes the most of Whalum the philosopher, theologian and theorist, with film director Jim Hanon (End of The Spear; and Miss HIV, for which Kirk wrote the soundtrack) capturing him as he weaves the story of jazz, gospel, the blues (verbally and instrumentally) in candid shots interposed with concert footage. Although Whalum—who lives up to his reputation as “the most influential saxophonist of his generation”—is front and center throughout, this is undoubtedly an ensemble recording. He shares the stage with what could be called the ‘Whalum dynasty’ (three generations and six Whalums: brother Kevin (vocals); Uncle Peanuts (vocals, sax, and piano); son, Kyle (electric bass); nephews Kenneth III (saxophone) and Kortland (vocals), plus first cousin Caleb tha Bridge (vocals/rap). The unparalleled George Duke, featured on both I and II, returns on keys, and is joined by vocalist Lalah Hathaway, guitarist Doc Powell, keyboardist/vocalist John Stoddart, trumpeter/vocalist Aaron Broadus, stand-up bassist, Reginald Veal, percussionist Lenny Castro and Kirk’s former bandmate, drummer Sean McCurley. The renowned gospel/r&b; writer and producer Jerry Peters once again brings his prodigious talent, sharing credits with Whalum on two songs and also as album co-producer, along with Kirk and Hal Sacks, the latter has served as engineer for all three GATJ live recordings. “My father loved James Cleveland and Jerry brought that sensibility, as well as playing the B3 organ.” But “gospel” in the radio/church sense is only whispered or suggested. The range of material is reflected in its creators/writers—from Whalum, himself, and son Kyle, to Charlie Chaplin, Diane Warren, Isaiah Jones and Frankie Beverly, among others. This genre-and-time-spanning array of songwriting is the perfect backdrop for Whalum’s seemingly endless expression. His signature r&b-inflected; jazz, rich with romance and melodic power, imbued with blues, funk, pop, Latin and world music is solidly present, but on songs like Ananias and Sapphira, we see the more adventurous Whalum. As he describes it, “The song is definitely avant garde; we go into deep improvisation. This isn’t a good groove and some licks, this is where we go somewhere.” And where he goes is in the direction of Elvin Jones, Coltrane and Henderson. Not only does Whalum pull out all the stops on this sobering nod to God’s holiness and power, but Reginald Veal is a standout on upright, as he turns his bass into a sitar and plucks out a driving percussive and intricate melody. Whalum is on a mission not just to share the Good News of the Gospel, but to expand it far beyond the walls of the church and traditionally accepted ways of communicating the message, and jazz is the medium. Whalum’s God is a lot bigger and the music that glorifies him is as limitless, transcendent, unexpected and powerful as He is. “How can you describe the indescribable?” queries Whalum. “That’s an opportunity for jazz and other creative arts. I wanted to make sure there were moments where it was ethereal, avant garde—that’s something that’s missing in the genre we call gospel. It needs to go where it is more ‘art music,’ It’s not just in your face, but, rather, the music provokes one to deeper contemplation about the Savior, and sin, and the truth. Jazz is very much underused in that sense.” Whalum purposely included songs and featured guests that are not traditionally thought of as “gospel” or Christian with stunning affect. George Duke offers up one of the performances of a lifetime on Diane Warren’s “Because

• published: 25 Oct 2008
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