August 2019 855-450-3680
Grammy Award-Winning Saxophonist Kirk Whalum talks gear, musical approach and more
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"I have gone back to the fundamentals, like practicing really simple diatonic exercises. It’s all about all 12 keys."
Gear, Growth and Practice: Kirk Whalum’s Journey From humble Memphis roots to having played the most listened-to saxophone solo in recorded history (“I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston), Kirk Whalum never forgets where he’s been, or where he’s going. WWBW: When you were preparing for a life in music, did
you can be you, with no forceful aspect of the instrument
you study classical saxophone?
guiding your sound.
KW: In college mostly, and I fell in love with it. Etudes are
WWBW: Do you have a reed preference?
a big part of my practice. It seeps into my jazz playing,
KW: I play Royal by D’Addario, number 4.
especially Slonimsky and other stuff jazz guys borrow
WWBW: Have you experimented with the new super high-
from the classical world.
end mouthpieces?
WWBW: What was your university experience like?
KW: I stay away from those because I like being able
KW: When I went to college, jazz programs weren’t
to recommend a mouthpiece to a young musician who
considered legit. If you got a degree in Performance, you
doesn’t have a lot of dough. I love the JodyJazz HR8.
were going to be playing classical music.
WWBW: Is there anything else you’d like to share with our
WWBW: Did you put your jazz learning on hold at
saxophone customers?
Texas Southern?
KW: In the last few years, I’ve gone back to the
KW: Absolutely not. I was fortunate to hit a brick wall
fundamentals, like practicing simple diatonic exercises.
named Arnett Cobb. Arnett, on a personal level and
I think it’s good to come up with exercises yourself. It
musical level, inspired me and taught me a lot.
will take you your whole lifetime to do it, but along the
WWBW: How did you get started?
way you’ll be a better musician because you internalize
KW: My Uncle Peanuts was the first guy I ever heard play
concepts and move them through all 12 keys.
saxophone. I must have been 13. My earliest influences
WWBW: You mention all 12 keys. Is that something you
and my biggest influences to this day are the Black
apply religiously?
musicians in church when I was growing up in Memphis.
KW: Absolutely. That comes from my classical training,
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WWBW: I understand you’ve made a change in equipment. but it’s all about all 12 keys. That's a Sonny Stitt thing. KW: After 30 years of playing Keilworth, I played a friend
That's where he was coming from. It's just great because
of mine’s P. Mauriat 66R. It’s the transparent sound of it.
it makes you get over those barriers and hurdles.
Transparency is the most important thing, because then
Read the complete interview online at WWBW.com/url
Kirk's Gear List: P. Mauriat PMXT-66R Series Professional Tenor Saxophone H72352 | $4,599.00
JodyJazz HR* Hard Rubber Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece 471631 | $199.00
JodyJazz MT1 Gold Power Ring Ligatures J51029 | $95.00
D'Addario Woodwinds Select Jazz Filed Tenor Saxophone Reeds 462677 | Box of 5 | $25.99
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