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 "I Receive Your Love" (Jerry Peters, Skip Scarborough) - 6:06 "N.E. Wind" (Kirk Whalum) - 5:06 "The Promise" (Jerry Peters)- 6:04 "Ma Foi" (Kirk Whalum) - 5:28 "L.C.'s Back" (Kirk Whalum) - 5:18 "Desperately" (Kirk Whalum) - 6:33 "Out-A-Hand" (Kirk Whalum) - 5:04 "Don't Even Look" (Kirk Whalum) - 5:08 "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