September 2019 consumer back-to-school catalog

August 2019 877-622-1301

Grammy Award-Winning Saxophonist Kirk Whalum talks gear, musical approach and more

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H93184

K35819

L28814

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 highfrom 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, WWBW: I understand you’ve made a change but it’s all about all 12 keys. That's a Sonny Stitt thing. in equipment.

That's where he was coming from. It's just great because KW: After 30 years of playing Keilworth, I played a friend it makes you get over those barriers and hurdles. of mine’s P. Mauriat 66R. It’s the transparent sound of it.

Read the complete interview online at WWBW.com/url Transparency is the most important thing, because then

Kirk's Gear List: P. Mauriat PMXT-66R Series Professional Tenor Saxophone H72352 | $4,599.00

YAMAHA YAS-62III Professional Alto Saxophone

H83356

H93184 | $3,091.99 Earn up to 15,455 points with First Chair Rewards

RICO Reeds B♭ Clarinet J24847 | Box of 10 | $18.99

Alto Saxophone

J24842 | Box of 10 | $22.99

GIARDINELLI Woodwind Instrument Maintenance and Care Kit 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

Saxophone H83356 | $19.95

Flute H83353 | $19.95

Clarinet H83352 | $19.95

BACKUN Alpha B♭ Clarinet

K35819 | Silver Keys with E♭ Key | $956.00 Earn up to 4,780 points with First Chair Rewards

AZUMI AZ1 Flute

L28814 | Offset G | $1,309.00 Earn up to 6,545 points with First Chair Rewards

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