The Promise (Kirk Whalum album)

The Promise is the third album by jazz artist Kirk Whalum, released in 1989 on Columbia Records. The album reached No. 7 on the Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart.

Overview

The Promise was produced by Bob James. Artists such as Syreeta and Paul Jackson Jr. appear on the album.

Critical reception

With a four out of five star rating, Johnathan Widran of Allmusic said "But this third effort was his strongest outing to date, displaying a versatility which ranges from spiritual ("The Promise") to Brazilian (the tropical flavored "Desperately") to straight ahead rock & roll (the Larry Carlton tribute "LC's Back," which features the fancy licks of the guitarist himself)."

Track listing

1. "I Receive Your Love" (Jerry Peters, Skip Scarborough) - 6:06
2. "N.E. Wind" (Kirk Whalum) - 5:06
3. "The Promise" (Jerry Peters)- 6:04
4. "Ma Foi" (Kirk Whalum) - 5:28
5. "L.C.'s Back" (Kirk Whalum) - 5:18
6. "Desperately" (Kirk Whalum) - 6:33
7. "Out-A-Hand" (Kirk Whalum) - 5:04
8. "Don't Even Look" (Kirk Whalum) - 5:08
9. "For All We Know" (J. Fred Coots, Sam Lewis) - 5:51

Personnel

• Kirk Whalum – saxophones
• Jerry Peters – keyboards (1, 3), additional programming (1, 3)
• Diane Louie – synthesizer programming (1, 3), computer programming (1, 3)
• Max Risenhoover – synthesizer programming (1–8), additional computer programming (1–8)
• Bob James – keyboards (2, 4–9), synthesizer programming (2, 4–8), computer programming (2, 4–8)
• Paul Jackson Jr. – guitars (1, 3)
• Steve Khan – guitars (2, 4, 6–8), rhythm guitar (5), guitar solo (6)
• Larry Carlton – guitar (5)
• Dean Brown – guitar solo (7), additional guitars (8)
• Gary King – bass (2, 4–8), bass solo (6)
• Abraham Laboriel – bass (3)
• Schuyler Deale – bass (4)
• Ron Carter – bass (9)
• Herman Matthews – drums
• Leonard "Doc" Gibbs – percussion (2–8)
• Syreeta Wright – vocals (1)
• Dorian Holley – vocals (1)
• Darryl Phinnessee – vocals (1)

Production

• George Butler – executive producer
• Bob James – co-producer (1, 3), producer (2, 4–9)
• Jerry Peters – co-producer (1, 3)
• Hal Sacks – recording (1, 3)
• Joe Jorgensen – recording (2, 4–9), mixing, mastering supervisor
• Max Risenhoover – assistant engineer
• Doug Rose – assistant engineer
• Rik Pekkonen – additional engineer (5)
• Vlado Meller – mastering at CBS Studios (New York, NY)
• Marion Orr – album coordinator
• Joel Zimmerman – art direction
• Hans Neleman – photography
• David Carrington – stylist, make-up
• Peter Paul – management

References