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[0:00] Robert Bannon: Welcome to The Roundtable! I’m your host, Robert Bannon, and today we have a very special guest. He is a Grammy Award-winning saxophonist whose music has touched the hearts of many. Please welcome Kirk Whalum!

[0:30] Kirk Whalum: Thank you, Robert! It’s great to be here.

[1:00] Robert Bannon: I’m so excited to have you on the show. Your career has been incredible, and I want to dive into that. You’ve collaborated with some of the biggest names in music. What has that experience been like for you?

[1:10] Kirk Whalum: It’s been a blessing, honestly. Each collaboration brings something unique, and I’ve learned so much from working with artists like Whitney Houston and others. It’s all about the connection and the music we create together.

[1:20] Robert Bannon: Speaking of Whitney, you played that unforgettable solo on “I Will Always Love You.” What was it like to be part of such an iconic moment in music history?

[1:30] Kirk Whalum: It was surreal. I remember the session vividly. Whitney was so passionate about the song, and being able to contribute to that moment was a dream come true. It’s amazing how that song has resonated with so many people over the years.

[1:40] Robert Bannon: Absolutely! Your sound is so distinct. How would you describe your musical style?

[1:50] Kirk Whalum: I would say it’s a blend of jazz, gospel, and soul. Those genres have shaped my sound and my approach to music. I try to infuse emotion and spirituality into everything I play.

[2:00] Robert Bannon: That’s beautiful. Faith seems to play a significant role in your life and artistry. Can you talk about that?

[2:20] Kirk Whalum: Yes, faith is central to who I am. It guides my creativity and helps me stay grounded. I believe music is a form of worship, and I try to reflect that in my work.

[2:30] Robert Bannon: I love that perspective. You’ve been in the industry for decades. What keeps you inspired after all this time?

[2:40] Kirk Whalum: The love of music and the desire to connect with people keeps me going. I’m always exploring new sounds and ideas, and I find inspiration in the world around me.

[2:50] Robert Bannon: That’s so important. Collaboration seems to be a theme in your career. What do you think makes a great collaboration?

[3:00] Kirk Whalum: A great collaboration is built on mutual respect and a shared vision. It’s about listening to each other and creating something that reflects both artists’ strengths.

[3:10] Robert Bannon: Well said! You’ve also released many solo projects. Can you tell us about your latest work?

[3:20] Kirk Whalum: My latest album is a reflection of my journey and experiences. It features a mix of original compositions and some covers that are close to my heart. I wanted to create something that resonates with listeners on a deeper level.

[3:40] Robert Bannon: I can’t wait to hear it! Your music is perfect for summer playlists. What songs do you think would fit well on a Summer BBQ Playlist?

[3:50] Kirk Whalum: Definitely some smooth jazz tracks! I think my song “The Wave” would be a great addition, along with some classic soul tunes. It’s all about creating a vibe that brings people together.

[4:00] Robert Bannon: That sounds perfect! Thank you so much for joining me today, Kirk. It’s been a pleasure talking with you.

[4:20] Kirk Whalum: Thank you, Robert! I’ve enjoyed it as well.

[4:30] Robert Bannon: And to our listeners, make sure to check out Kirk Whalum’s music and stay tuned for more episodes of The Roundtable!

[12:17] Kirk Whalum: Yes, those were things that I never saw myself doing forever. Like, this would be so cool to do for a few years, which I did, seven years with Whitney. But I never saw myself as being the guy who plays sessions over here with this artist and tours with that artist. I mean, even from the standpoint of being a young, married guy, I knew that I was going to need to have more control over the income part of it. Yeah, so it all worked out. It all worked out, and now you have this beautiful, incredible body of music. How do songs come to you? Do you hear them? Do you write them down? Do you write chords? Do you go in the studio and just play around and pick things? How does a Kirk original song come to be?

[13:05] Kirk Whalum: Yeah, I mean, all of the above. Like, all inspiration is valid, you know, wherever it comes from. You know, many times it's just like, you know, a loop or something that I hear that inspires me or, you know, a certain setting. Like, for instance, my wife once said, we were talking about, you know, the kids need this and you need that. And, you know, she's saying, she said, you know what, it's what I do. Like, I take care of you guys. I'm like, wow, it's what I do. It's what I do. And so I just took that as a lyrical seed and I wrote this song. It said, don't bother asking why. Don't wonder how it's possible to love someone like you. It's because you're mine. It's because you are you. It's because I'm love.

Again, this is from God. It's what I do. It's what I do. And so that song, I won the Grammy as gospel song of the year. So now keep in mind, Robert, I'm a saxophone player. I am absolutely a jazz and a soul musician. I'm not per se a gospel musician or songwriter. But that year I won for gospel song of the year. And I think I will always say that that was just God. That was his doing. That was a message he wanted to get out. And I think, yeah, that's what happened.

[14:32] Robert Bannon: Your faith is so important to, I think, everybody. We need it more than ever in this world. And you know, a higher Jesus, God, a connection to who made us and brought us here. And everything is through him and his power. So for you, the saxophone was a calling to you? How were you drawn to it? You could have been, right now you could be a Grammy winning flautist. You could be a Grammy winning bongo player. Why the saxophone?

[14:59] Kirk Whalum: That's a great question. And first of all, I'll go back to, and while I'm getting something that I want you to see, I'll keep talking. I go back to, you know, my uncle. Like, you know, he was the guy who really inspired me to play that. But you talked about, you know, my faith. Here we are in a context, Robert, where the, man, all things, faith, Christian, whatever, have been hijacked, man, by a group of people who have now, they're trying to take over the narrative as if to say, you know, well, God is all about America. And even more so like white America. And it's like, Jesus is like, first of all, I did not speak English. I am not white. I am all of that. But in the flesh, he wasn't white.

So I mean, it's like, it's just this madness. So right now, saying that I'm a Christian is almost like kind of taking a chance because it's been crazy. Anyway, so back to your question. So this guy here was, your audience who's listening to this can't see it, but it's my uncle Peanuts. He was five foot five, you know, with a slight heel, he was five foot five. And he was my hero, man. He played the saxophone and he also sang and played piano. At a certain point, right here, what I'm holding is the CD that I produced on him. It was the first and only CD produced on him, which is insane. But he lived in St. Louis and he played with Nat King Cole. I mean, but I heard him play the saxophone the year that I started.

Like I was 12 and my dad said, I'm going to get your uncle Peanuts to come by. And he did. And I was like, oh my God, what I heard changed my life. Because hearing a real professional play the same instrument you're honking on at 14, it changes. It's like now you have a reference point. And that was it, man. That's why I knew I had already chosen a saxophone because I knew he played it. But when I heard him actually play it, it was sealed. That was it.

[17:21] Robert Bannon: Uncle Peanuts, that is the most beautiful, beautiful story. And to go back to your comment about talking about Christian and then family, you are a hundred. They're not. Talk about a narcissist. They're not going to take away our right to be Christian and say who we are. I refuse that. And to share your story and your journey about your uncle is beautiful. And that legacy lives on. And there are young saxophone players around the world who are listening to your records and will say that you inspired them and your records and what you've done made them want to be the instrument, the superstar that they have become and will become. You inspire the next generation.

[17:56] Kirk Whalum: Yeah, man. It really is something to think about. And by the way, just in the same lineage, like, okay, here's me diagonal line to my Uncle Peanuts and then a diagonal line down to my nephew, Kenneth, who is an amazing saxophone. You know about him.

[18:15] Robert Bannon: Yeah, I sure do.

[18:15] Kirk Whalum: Yeah. So, I mean, and that's just part of the story. Again, I said my son, Kyle, plays with, he was with Kelly Clarkson and now he's with Katy Perry. He also plays with Sabrina Carpenter. But my nephew plays tours now for almost 10 years with Bruno Mars. So that's Cameron. So Kyle, Kenneth, Cameron, all these Ks. Courtland is an incredible singer who does more kind of Broadway type stuff. But yeah, so it never ends. But you're right. What a joy to think that there's a way for me to inspire another generation doing this. There's something in the water there. I don't know what y'all do in your family, but everybody got, they got hit with the talent stick over there at the Whalum family household.

They all are out here working and performing. When you made the decision to make this your business, I know it's really hard to balance family, children, life, a wife, you know, and then pay the bills and go on the road. How have you made that work? What is your role that makes life on the road as a musician and then also being the dad and the husband that you are?

[19:18] Kirk Whalum: Yeah, thank you. Well, it is, you know, daily decision to stay focused. You know, there are lots of distractions, but I'm just so grateful, man, that I have that core. I heard, you know, you talk about people who are, you know, trainers, you know, people working out, they build a strong core, like develop that thing in the middle and everything else follows. Right. So I really believe that that is what's up with me, man. My core is Ruby, like wherever we are, we're about to be spending more time in France. I have an assignment as a where I'll be teaching, you know, doing the sex retreats and tutorials and stuff in France. I speak French. We live there, long story, but it's basically wherever she is, is home. So it can be wherever. And I think that is the secret to the stability, the kind of new kind, different kind of stability where you're moving around all the time, but you're stable.

[20:28] Robert Bannon: I think that's so beautiful. I'm going to steal that when I go home, be like wherever you are, it's Kirk. Kirk is hooking it up. He's a good wingman. He's look, go home and tell your person that they're your home. Wherever you are is my home. You're going to that's that's a date night. That's a good hallmark card right there. I feel you. You better lay down, teach us how to do it. That's not it.

[20:52] Kirk Whalum: So for people who are discovering you and have not heard you up, firstly, I love the gospel record, the gospel according to you have to listen to the volumes of them. You have to go back to the lineage of them. And then we have to see you when you're on the road. How many dates, how many days a year do you hit the road usually?

[21:08] Kirk Whalum: So, you know, these days and by that, I mean the last 10 years, it's more or less weekends primarily, like every weekend this month, I'm gone. Also, you know, there's the, you know, like if I'm doing a jazz fest or a cruise, something then, you know, or in Europe or something. We were in Africa just now for almost a month. So that that part tends to be, you know, a longer period of time. But primarily I go out on the weekends, man, I'm up early. You know, I think that's a part of what we do that a lot of people don't realize, like, oh, man, this is, you know, you drink and stay up late and wake up late. It's like, no, no and no, you know, because you got a 430 wake up call. Good luck doing that.

If you had, you know, seven shots and a glass of beer, you know, it is a it is a grind and you do it for the love of the music and the audience loves and appreciates. I was just let us see was just here and I was talking to her and she had not been home in months. And I was like, that is the life of a musician. It's not the glamour and the fame and the TV and the it's it is a daily job and it is a calling and it is a service that you provide the world to share the music. You give us peace and joy and love. And I can't thank you enough for that.

[22:31] Kirk Whalum: Oh, man. And you know what? I've lived in Hollywood and, you know, I couldn't wait to get out. I was happy to be there because I was able to do all this stuff. But, you know, I'm sitting in a room with, you know, Barbra Streisand. She's going like, well, you know, so, you know, conducted those like that song is over and she looks at me like, what do you think? I'm like, what? What do I think? You know, so those moments was worth being in Hollywood. But, man, I would not want to live that life. It's just insanity. And I bravo to the people, you know, like Denzel and others who have kept that core in the midst of the madness, man. Bravo.

[23:17] Robert Bannon: Well, you did it. The movie soundtracks that you've been on, the albums that you've been on, the Babyface album that you're on, the records that you're on, and then the dozens of albums and records and singles that you've put out on your own will keep the world dancing and smiling and playing on radio stations and cars everywhere for the rest of time. And when you're in Detroit, I know how to get in touch with you now, Kirk. I'm coming to give you a hug.

[23:44] Kirk Whalum: Hey, man, you try coming and not giving me a hug. That's going to be a problem. I'm coming to give you a hug when Kirk Whalum is in your neighborhood. You need to get a ticket and you need to be there. And when you're looking for when you're making dinner tonight and you sit down with your family and your loved ones, you're taking a ride after work and you need to calm down and you need to de-stress. You need to tap your fingers and clap your hands. You know the music you need to listen to. Go stream everything. Go stream the albums. And when when you're in my neck of the woods, I can't wait to give you a hug and a hey and thank you. It was an honor and a joy to spend time with you today.

[24:13] Kirk Whalum: What a pleasure, man. Thank you so much. Look forward to that hug in Detroit, man. I'm ready. Let's go.

[24:18] Robert Bannon: All right. Ciao.