A quick visit to Kim Waters’ website (www.kimwaters.net) will remind you of how this lifelong composer, producer, and sax man has impacted the Quiet Storm and contemporary jazz movements, Waters’ upcoming release: This Heart of Mine, will remind you of the impact he is continuing to make.
Waters is personally credited with performing most of the instruments on This Heart of Mine. You can hear the attention to detail in the variety of innovative & unique elements, and how Kim finds creative and interesting ways to blend them. Having worked with so many talented people over 20 years and 26 albums, it wouldn’t have been difficult to fill a roster of accomplished musicians, but the result of Kim’s efforts is a very clear and personal connection between himself and the listener.
That’s not to say that he won’t collaborate, of course. Collaboration between two or more passionate people always brings about a special quality to an original piece of music. “Am I a Fool” is certainly a great example of that. Waters teamed up with Soul Prince Calvin Richardson to create a track that truly stirs the heart towards a quiet moment of personal reflection.
There’s a really good chance that you will enjoy the play that Waters’ sax has around Alicia Keys’ catchy refrain in “Empire State of Mind”. You are probably very familiar with this Jay-Z & Alicia Keys number with all of its swagger. Kim’s version is as inspiring and exciting as you’d expect it to be, and, at the same time, relaxing and inviting. You can hit the repeat button and just “go to town” over and over!
With the music of R. Kelly appealing to the heart through it’s strong vocals, and Kim Waters’ music appealing to the heart through the expressive response of a saxophone, it makes sense that the two might come together now and again. The last time we heard Waters’ interpretation of an R. Kelly song was in 2004 with the wonderfully done “Step in the Name of Love”. This time it’s with Kelly’s “Love Letter”. After hearing the new rendition of “Love Letter” you might find yourself listening to the original and imagining what it would be like to hear Waters’ parts woven into it. In any event, Waters’ captures your attention with a very soulful performance equal to any of your expectations.
If your tastes guide you to something with a little more swing in their step, you’re going to love “The Groove’s Alright”. The groove is very alright, actually! You will definitely find yourself dancing somehow, even if you’re sitting down when this track comes on. Your body wants to move, and will find a way!
There’s a lot more of This Heart of Mine for you to discover. So if you have a collection of all things contemporary, add this one to it. Maybe you have a date with that special someone October 25th? This could be just the thing to set the mood. Or, you could just hit play anytime you want to wind down and relax.
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Check out Heed’s interview with Kim Waters in our latest issue, available on Magcloud and Zinio.
