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. The centerpiece title song isn't blatantly gospel, but
Whalum's textured multiple tenor lines rise powerfully towards the heavens like a soaring choir after making their main melodic hook statements. At one point,
Whalum improvises crisply over
Greg Phillinganes' simmering Rhodes as
Luis Conte's percussion dances around him. "Now Till Forever" begins with a more meditative, smoky approach before
Whalum, backed by
John Stoddart's soulful wordless vocals, puts a little more oomph in the chorus. On "Playing With Fire,"
Whalum's soaring lines are answered and expounded upon by the balmy acoustic guitar breezes of
Peter White; late in the tune,
Whalum textures his sax to sound like a horn section, weaving that around
White's sly lines.
Gregg Karukas' moody keyboards and some colorful handclap effects help
Whalum find some church in
'N Sync's "God Must Have Spent a Little More Time on You";
Tim Heintz's shimmering organ harmonies have the same gospel effect on a percussive cover of
Macy Gray's "I Try," whose hook is also played as a one-man horn section.
Whalum stretches out the slammin' funk and heartfelt meditations to over seven minutes on the cleverly titled "Groverworked and Underpaid," bouncing gleefully over
Phillinganes' throbbing Rhodes and Paul Jackson Jr.'s plucky electric guitar, before improvising liberally. This kind of track represents a true risk for a smooth jazz album, but it seems
Whalum was more concerned with portraying his feelings about the recently departed
Grover Washington, Jr. and his inspiration honestly. ~ Jonathan Widran