Articles

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

By Troy Dostert

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

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

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

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 ...