Jazz Articles about Rodney Whitaker

Rodney Whitaker: Oasis

by Jack Bowers
January 25, 2023

Oasis is the third time around for bassist Rodney Whitaker and music written by fellow Michigander Gregg Hill, following Common Ground (Origin 82780) and Outrospection (Origin 82819). Personnel is the same as on Common Ground (Terell Stafford, trumpet; Tim Warfield, saxophone; Bruce Barth, piano; Dana Hall, drums; Rockelle Fortin, vocals) with Hall and Fortin returning from Outrospection (on which Fortin is listed as Rockelle Whitaker). Hill's compositions are for the most part firmly grounded in customary post-bop ...

Rodney Whitaker: Outrospection: The Music of Gregg Hill

by Paul Rauch
May 8, 2021

Bassist Rodney Whitaker grew out of the Detroit jazz tradition, paying dues along the way on the road with the likes of Terence Blanchard, Roy Hargrove, Wynton Marsalis and Kenny Garrett. His hard-driving style personifies modern post-bop jazz, with his dedication to tradition acting as a catalyst rather than a deterrent from innovation. On Outrospection, Whitaker continues his work with under-the-radar, Michigan composer Gregg Hill. The two first collaborated on Whitaker's Common Ground: The Music of Gregg Hill ...

Rodney Whitaker with the Christ Church Cranbrook Choir: Cranbrook Christmas Jazz

by Troy Dostert
January 15, 2021

Bassist Rodney Whitaker has been a huge presence in Michigan jazz for decades, with his leadership of the Michigan State University jazz program complementing his many other projects and giving him the opportunity to mentor upcoming generations of jazz talent. He has become a crucial ambassador for the music as well, with community outreach being a critical aspect of his mission. One of his most essential endeavors has been his status since 2015 as Artist in Residence at Christ Church ...

Rodney Whitaker: When We Find Ourselves Alone

by Dan Bilawsky
August 7, 2014

Bassist Rodney Whitaker is often cited for his affiliations rather than his own work. That's a shame, as it takes attention away from some wonderful music that he's put out under his own name, but it's easy to understand why that's the case. He anchored trumpeter Roy Hargrove's band for a while, ballasted and buoyed Wynton Marsalis's Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra during his stint with that acclaimed organization, and connected with drummer Carl Allen for a pair of exciting ...

Rodney Whitaker: Winter Moon

by John Kelman
April 5, 2004

Bringing together three like-minded artists who are leaders in their own right, bassist Rodney Whitaker delivers Winter Moon , his most assured and focused release to date. With a sense of swing that permeates the entire session, this is post bop that is reverential but still manages to say something new.

Having left the Jazz at the Lincoln Center Orchestra to pursue his own career, Whitaker is clearly developing as a composer and band leader. Bringing back saxophonist Ron Blake, ...

Rodney Whitaker: The Brooklyn Session: Ballads & Blues

by C. Andrew Hovan
December 1, 1999

Following in the footsteps of the immortal Paul Chambers, Rodney Whitaker promises to become one of the better bassist/leaders on the current scene, taking only a bit of a back seat to the more ubiquitous Christian McBride. He has two accomplished releases already under his belt for the Japanese DIW/Disc Union label (1996's Children of the Light and 1997's Hidden Kingdom ) and now we have his third date as a leader out on Criss Cross.

Taking on the spirit ...