The King of Collaboration! Kim Waters by Dr. Joan Cartwright

Kim Waters has produced over 25 solo albums that contain half of his collection of original compositions. But his astonishing record for performing and collaborating with other musicians, especially women, is outstanding.

Kim didn’t just collaborate with women vocalists and instrumentalists, he sired a prodigy, Kayla Waters, whose song Full Bloom holds the record for the longest #1 song on the Billboard National Airplay Chart, six weeks! Kayla Waters is a prodigy sired by a prodigy. And Kayla has a twin, Kimberly, which sounds like a double bonus!

Kim began violin lessons at seven. He studied theory and, by 11, switched to saxophone. The TV maestro Lawrence Welk has saxophones in his band and that caught Kim’s attention. By 13, he was a known prodigy at Peabody School of Music, Harford Community College, and in very short notice, in New York City. He even played with Ray Charles at Pier 6 in Baltimore. Kim and his brothers Eric (drums) and James (bass) were joined by Cyrus Chestnut on piano, while accompanying vocalists Byrd Pressley and Phil Perry (pictured below), on many occasions as the house band for the Playboy Club in Great Gorge, New Jersey.

On weekends, they took gigs at jazz spots around the city. From 1984 on, the band played at Birdland, uptown at Small’s Paradise Lounge, Minton’s, and the Blue Note. Kim’s soulful smooth jazz captured the hearts of audiences, quickly. He performed for Jazzmobile at Bryant Park and on the Round-the-City Jazz Cruise.

During his breaks, Kim took advantage of the jazz giants living in his midst for mentoring, including tenor men Gary Bartz and Mickey Fields, who Kim drove around when he was only 16 years old. The tri-state area leant a rich background for Kim’s musical grooming. Hailing from Belair, Maryland, just outside of Baltimore, Kim also performed in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. He lived in Austin, Texas, for nine years and his travel abroad began with a trip to Tokyo, Japan, where he eventually appeared at the infamous Blue Note.

By 1991, Kim was touring Europe at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, Ronnie Scott’s in Londoon, and festivals in Lago Maggiore, Italy, in Algarve, Portugal, and in Madrid and Barcelona, Spain.

His latest collaboration is with our WIJSF member and magazine contributor Gail Jhonson. During this interview, he mentioned that they just dropped Glow, yesterday. Ironically, Gail texted me the link, this morning, and I listened to it. Little did I know they worked together.

Kim’s most important collaboration is with his daughter Kayla Waters on piano. Kayla is a classically-trained pianist and composer. Together, they are a dynamic duo. I suggest you view this video: https://youtu.be/ eqDl5nfZQzU?si=Qveeluc0i35MSpi6

Kim Waters by Dr. Joan Cartwright (con’t)

Kim works, regularly with sultry singer Maysa Leak (Incognito). He’s collaborated with Lisa Fisher, most noted for performing with the Rolling Stones. Kim has toured with Chante Moore and Karen Briggs on violin, rounding out his life in music. Listen to Glow with Gail Jhonson at this link: https://youtu.be/-recWqG6RTk?si=xZPTd_HGuIyazHPi

The gentility of Kim’s manner shines through in his music. From R Kelly’s Step in the Name of Love to Mariah Carey’s Vision of Love, Kim covers every song he plays as if it were his own composition. He’s incorporated the chops of a jazz giant into contemporary music softly and gently, adding flavor to a gasping industry.

I asked Kim, “So, you collaborated with Kayla Waters, Dana Waters, Gail Jhonson, Lisa Fisher, Chante Moore, Maysa Leak, and Karen Briggs?”

Kim responded, “Yes, I did, and also with Phil Perry, Issac Hayes, Kenny Lattimore, James Lloyd, Pieces of a Dream, Chuck Loeb, Gerald Veasley. I can’t think of all of them. Oh, Kirk Whalum, Everette Harp, Najee, and Norman Brown.”

Kim Waters Discography

1. 1989 Sweet and Saxy

2. 1990 All Because of You

3. 1991 Sax Appeal

4. 1992 Tribute

5. 1993 Peaceful Journey

6. 1994 It’s Time for Love

7. 1994 Home for Christmas

8. 1996 You Are Not Alone

9. 1998 Love’s Melody

10. 1999 One Special Moment

He said they need to “write their own music!”

Kayla Waters

That’s an amazing roster of collaborations with unforgettable artists. Kim’s journey continues with more recordings, performances, and projects with talented and creative musicians in all the genres. Kayla’s classical training meshes with her father’s inimitable prowess on saxophone to open doors for new generations of music lovers. Kim’s musical family tradition should spill over onto the whole world to lighten it up a bit!

Kim advises young musicians to “hone their skills, be a musician that embraces all styles and genres, and be prepared because you never know when you will get the call.” He said they need to “write their own music!”

11. 2001 From the Heart

12. 2002 Someone to Love You

13. 2004 In the Name of Love

14. 2005 All for Love

15. 2007 You Are My Lady

16. 2008 I Want You: Love in the Spirit of Marvin Gaye

17. 2010 Love Stories

18. 2011 This Heart of Mine

19. 2013 My Loves

20. 2014 Silver Soul

21. 2015 My Gift to You

22. 2016 Rhythm with Romance

23. 2018 What I Like

24. 2020 Shakedown

25. 2022 That Special Touch https://www.dropbox.com/scl/ fi/94agheo94nqs9uexbyeie/kimwaters-photoszip?rlkey=sdf87ip1sl2u6 2z6oh3v90ink&e=1&st=jrxqc3ax&dl=0