Unconditional is a studio album by jazz musician Kirk Whalum, released in 2000 by Warner Bros. Records and produced by Paul Brown. The album reached No. 2 on the Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart and No. 3 on the Billboard Top Jazz Albums chart.
Unconditional received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Instrumental Album.
Critical reception
Johnathan Widran of AllMusic opined "No doubt the title of Unconditional applies to the love of God that pervades his music and life, but like most of Whalum's efforts, this collection can be enjoyed by a wide audience."
Track listing Track no. Song title Songwriter(s) Length1"Now 'Til Forever"Kirk Whalum04:362"Groverworked & Underpaid"Kirk Whalum07:143"God Must Have Spent A Little More Time on You"Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers04:454"Unconditional"Kirk Whalum04:415"Can't Stop the Rain"Kirk Whalum featuring Shai04:506"Song for Evan"Kirk Whalum04:007"I Try"Macy Gray, Jinsoo Lim, Jeremy Ruzumna, David Wilder03:548"Playing with Fire"Roberto Vally, Kirk Whalum04:069"Real Love"Sue Ann Carwell, Kirk Whalum04:2510"Waltz for David"Kirk Whalum04:46
Personnel Kirk Whalum – tenor saxophone (1–8), arrangements (2, 4, 6, 9, 10), alto saxophone (9, 10), keyboards (9) Tim Heintz – keyboards (1), additional keyboards (2, 4, 6, 10), organ (7) Roberto Vally – keyboards (1, 8), bass (1, 8), arrangements (8) Greg Phillinganes – Rhodes electric piano (2, 4, 6), keyboards (10) Gregg Karukas – all other instruments (3), arrangements (3) Shai – keyboards (5), bass (5), vocals (5), arrangements (5) David "Kahlid" Woods – all other instruments (7), arrangements (7), drum programming (9) Tony Maiden – guitars (1, 5, 9) Paul Jackson Jr. – guitars (2, 4, 6, 10) Peter White – guitars (8) Alex Al – bass (2, 4, 6, 10) Paul Brown – drum programming (1, 8, 9), arrangements (1, 2, 6, 8) Lil' John Roberts – drums (2, 5, 6) Teddy Campbell – drums (4, 10) Lenny Castro – percussion (1) Luis Conte – percussion (2, 4, 6, 8–10) Jerry Hey – additional arrangements (4, 6) John Stoddart – backing vocals (1) Wendy Moten – vocals (9) Sue Ann Carwell – "do-doo's" vocals (9)
Production Paul Brown – producer, recording (1, 3, 5, 7–9), mixing (1–4, 6–8, 10) Ray Bardani – recording (2, 4, 6, 10), mixing (5, 9) Gregg Karukas – recording (3) Koji Egawa – assistant engineer Jeff Gregory – assistant engineer Thomas Johnson – assistant engineer Stewart Whitmore – digital editing Stephen Marcussen – mastering at Marcussen Mastering (Hollywood, California) Lexy Shroyer – production coordinator Mark Larson – art direction Richard Lee – photography Barbara Camp – grooming Laurita Shields – stylist Earl Cole – management
References