Kirk Whalum Into My Soul CD

This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files.
Personnel: Kirk Whalum (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, keyboards, programming); Isaac Hayes, Maurice White, Greg Curtis, Phil Perry, Kevin Whalum, J. Blackfoot, Wendy Moten (vocals); Dr. Bill Hurd (soprano saxophone, baritone saxophone); Floyd Newman (baritone saxophone); Rod McGaha, Rick Braun (trumpet); Lester Snell (organ, keyboards); Tyrone Dickerson (organ); Garry Goin (keyboards, acoustic & electric guitars, programming); John Stoddart (keyboards); Greg Moore, Michael Ripoll, Norman Brown (guitar);
Alex Al, Kyle Whalum (bass); Steve Pots, Marcus Finney (drums); Luis Conte (percussion).
Recorded at Blind Alley, Numer One Beale Street, Memphis Records, Memphis, Tennessee; Yo Soy, Nashville, Tennessee; Peace In The Valley, Arleta, California. Includes liner notes by Kirk Whalum.
This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files.
Personnel: Kirk Whalum (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, keyboards, programming); Greg Curtis, Isaac Hayes, J. Blackfoot, Kevin Whalum, Maurice White, Phil Perry, Wendy Moten (vocals); Michael Ripoll, Greg Moore (guitar); Floyd Newman (baritone saxophone); Rod McGaha (trumpet); Lester Snell (organ, keyboards); Tyrone Dickerson (organ); John Stoddart (keyboards, background vocals); Blair Cunningham, Marcus Finney, Steve Potts (drums); Luis Conte (percussion); Stephen Maples, Candace Miller (background vocals).
Recording information: #1 Beale St., Memphis, TN; Blind Alley; Memphis Records, Memphis, TN; Peace In The Valley, Arleta, CA; Yo Soy, Nashville, TN.
Photographers: Randall Englund; Senor McGuire.
Unknown Contributor Role: Norman Brown.
Despite featuring an organic mix of straightforward R&B, Into My Soul still finds alto saxophonist Kirk Whalum only threatening to make a smooth jazz masterpiece. On what is ostensibly his Memphis album, Whalum -- a Memphis native -- does evince a Stax-style soulfulness; unfortunately, he keeps the arrangements and his own playing so mild and light that nothing really ever sticks with you. Given that the album largely showcases a more natural, acoustic production style, it is disappointing that such tracks as the cover of the Isaac Hayes nugget "Hold On! I'm Comin'" are marred by predictably cheesy synthesizer backgrounds and unnecessary drum machine programming. Instead you only get a few standouts, including the title track, a funky midtempo ballad that recalls the simple elegance of Grover Washington, Jr. Similarly, the funky "Hoddamile (Hot or Mild)" gets by nicely with a catchy melody and guest spots by trumpeter Rick Braun and guitarist Norman Brown. If only the whole album were as good as the raw and soulful "That's All Right" -- featuring vocals by Kevin Whalum -- which turns the Arthur Crudup-penned Elvis classic into a raw Tony! Toni! Toné!-meets-Sam Cooke rave-up, Into My Soul might have been more than just pleasant. ~ Matt Collar
Featuring an organic mix of straightforward R&B, Into My Soul finds alto saxophonist Kirk Whalum on what is ostensibly his Memphis album. Whalum -- a Memphis native -- does evince a Stax-style soulfulness, but he keeps the arrangements and his own playing mild and light despite the album's more natural acoustic production style. The title track, a funky midtempo ballad that recalls the simple elegance of Grover Washington, Jr., is a standout. Similarly, the funky "Hoddamile (Hot or Mild)" gets by nicely with a catchy melody and guest spots by trumpeter Rick Braun and guitarist Norman Brown. And the raw and soulful "That's All Right" -- featuring vocals by Kevin Whalum -- turns the Arthur Crudup-penned Elvis classic into a raw Tony! Toni! Toné!-meets-Sam Cooke rave-up. The rest of Into My Soul is pleasant, but falls short of a Whalum smooth jazz masterpiece. ~ Matt CollarJazzTimes (10/03, p.96) - "...Whalum has crafted a series of tracks that offer a personal and deeply felt take on the soul and spirit of Memphis music..."