To categorize saxophonist Kirk Whalum as simply a "smooth jazz" artist would barely scratch the surface of his enormous talents.

The singer/songwriter/saxophonist grew up in Memphis, Tenn., the son of a Baptist preacher. Whalum was surrounded by music, particularly Gospel, at an early age. His grandmother was a singer and classically trained pianist and his father an accomplished singer as well. By age 12, Whalum had mastered the drums and the piano. But it was his uncle, Hugh "Peanuts" Whalum, a St. Louis based saxophonist who influenced Whalum to play the sax.

Over the years Whalum turned his attention to straight-ahead jazz, soul, funk and R&B, although he never abandoned his Gospel roots. Today, Whalum's music is an amalgamation of the aforementioned genres as evidenced on his new, two-disc CD and DVD, "The Gospel According to Jazz: Chapter III."

N2Entertainment.net caught up with Whalum to discuss his new CD which is the third installment in his critically acclaimed jazz series. The eight time Grammy nominated musician also talked about staying contemporary in an ever changing musical landscape.

Here's what else this extremely cool, funny and legendary artist revealed.

Q. Have you been doing a lot of touring in America and Paris?

A. Paris!!! I wish. Having had the opportunity both to study there as a 19 year-old (thanks to a great French professor named Wanda Sandle at an HBCU named Texas Southern U!) and to live there as a 30 something with wife and four kids in tow. I would love to say that I've been there this year. Haven't! But I've been to Jackson, Mississippi! Loved it! We have been to Tokyo, The Caribbean and Copenhagen over the last 12 months.

Q. Tell me about your new CD, "The Gospel According to Jazz: Chapter III" and the series. What inspired you to do this collaboration?

A. The initial inspiration for this series was birthed out of a very big disappointment. I had been a Columbia Recording Artist for 12 (very comfortable, but not particularly lucrative) years when I was suddenly, unceremoniously dropped. At this vulnerable and very depressing moment, my wife spoke "as if from God" and said; "What can you do today that you couldn't do yesterday when you were a Columbia artist?" Needless to say this shook my foundation and threw me right back into "creative" mode. I said almost immediately; "Columbia kept "yessing" me about doing a live jazz record consecrated to the Lord Jesus (i.e. Gospel/Jazz). George Duke, Jonathan Butler and other friends had toyed with the idea for a while. Why not save our bucks and do it ourselves, now that I'm free!!" Thus, the GATJ series was born (the title was my manager Earl Cole's brainstorm.)

Q. The first one was released in 1998, the second chapter, 2002. This one is a long time coming. What took so long to make this one?

A. Honestly I've been busy! These kinds of projects take a tremendous amount of time, money and energy––which is normally at the expense of something. Making a living in the mainstream industry has to basically take a back seat when I do these "chapters." And frankly that's hard to do when you've got bills to pay. So we were blessed to not only take the time, but also find a way to film the project in high def! The director, Jim Hanon, is a very successful filmmaker, not just a "music videographer." So it's like a movie with a sort of story line.

Q. When did the CD come out? Is it in stores now, online etc?

A. The CD and DVD are out now, available wherever fine music is sold! (Laughter). It's also at www.kirkwhalum.com or www.facebook.com/kirkwhalum and we have a special grass-roots sharing campaign going on Facebook called "Share 12." Basically folks can go to my website, click on the Facebook App, and then share an invite with 12 friends [something like "hey the GATJ3 is out! Check it out] and we'll allow them to download half of the 2-CD set for free! It's a way of saying "thanks for helping us get the word out!"

Q. You have nearly your entire family on this CD. It's difficult to get family together to agree on ordering a pizza. How did you have such success here?

A. (He laughs). I came to the realization at one point that my family's musical legacy was going on with or without me. In other words, I gave up on feeling awkward about nepotism! My grandmothers were both musicians: a gospel singer and a classically trained piano/organ/voice teacher, grandfather was a singer/orator… etc. My mom played a little piano and my dad, though a pastor was a gospel music lover. Now on the CD/DVD we feature my Uncle "Peanuts" on both vocals and sax (he was my first inspiration when I was 12), my brother Kevin on vocals (he has quite a reputation amongst the cognoscenti), my nephews Kenneth–sax (records & performs with Maxwell and others) and Kortland–vocals, and my son Kyle–bass (songwriter, singer and music director for both his rock band The Wailincanes and Country artist James Otto).

Q. Talk about some of the people you collaborated with on this disc, Lalah Hathaway, George Duke, etc. What did they bring to the table for this project?

A. Having George Duke now on all three "Chapters" is especially cool, given that he is loved and respected around the world. My guests Lalah Hathaway and Doc Powell add their own unique gifts, honed in the worlds of Jazz and R&B. I'm very proud of the synergy you hear on this project.

Q. You also mentioned doing some testing at the seminary. Can you tell me what that's about?

A. I decided about three years ago that I wanted to go back to school and get a masters. I toyed with getting a degree in music (I have a bachelors in music from TSU) but finally admitted to myself that my passion had shifted, at least the cutting edge of it, to theology––specifically where theology and art intersect. Thus my degree will be a Masters of Art in Theology. It's a challenge going back to school after more than 25 years!

Q. Your musical roots are firmly entrenched in gospel and jazz. Talk about what both genres of music mean to you, especially since you grew up in Memphis and in a Baptist Church. Can you talk about your journey from then until now and about how they are so very closely connected?

A. The first song I learned to play was "Amazing Grace" at age 12. I subsequently played that song with Whitney Houston in front of over 75,000 live in South Africa as well as 7 million live on HBO in 1994. This vignette amply illustrates what Gospel music has meant to me and how important it is in the formation of how I approach music. I'm not nearly the only one to say this. My heroes Hank Crawford, Arnette Cobb, Wilton Felder and others say the same.

Q. You've worked with many artists throughout the course of your career. Is there anyone living or even not with us that you wish you could have performed with?

A. I have performed with so many of my heroes and am so grateful to be able to say that. I would love to record or perform with Bonnie Raitt, Q-Tip, and Brandy… not necessarily in that order.

Q. I've read in a few major music publications that your sax solo "I Will Always Love You" is the most listened to sax solo in the history of pop music. Is that true?

A. That's what I'm told!

Q. You starred in a couple of movies, notably "The Prince of Tides." In addition to "Boyz in The Hood" and "The Bodyguard" what other movie soundtracks have you done? Any others in the works or movie roles?

A. In "The Prince of Tides," I played a cameo in the scene where the two principals decide to split up. The song I played is "For All We Know." I don't have any soundtrack work coming up.

Q. You've been a Grammy nominee eight times. Isn't it time to win one?

A. Oh I'm extremely grateful for the nominations. If I ever win one it will pretty much have to do with "popularity" more than necessarily the quality of my music––and that would be fine with me. But everyone in my industry gets just how much of an honor the nomination is (by comparison) because the panels actually listen to the music they nominate.

Q.What's your favorite Kirk Whalum CD or song?

A. "Song For Evan" on my "Unconditional CD." It's for my youngest son who's 22 and a graduate from film school. Know any directors looking for a young genius? (Laughter)

Q. Who are you listening to on your iPod?

A. I have a podcast called Spanishpod. I love languages. It's my hobby. I also have Soweto Kinch and André Crouch's latest.

Q. We lost a lot of musicians in the past year, Teddy Pendergrass, Michael Jackson, and Wayman Tisdale. Had you worked with any of them?

A. Only Wayman. He was my very dear friend and I miss him.

Q. It seems the more "mature" you get, the more you look like Jr. Walker from Jr. Walker and the All-stars. Do you agree and did he have any influence on you?

A. Wow! I look like him? Let me Google his picture so I can determine whether or not I'm happy about that! (Laughter). Man that "What Does It Take" is such a cool song.

Q. You're probably too humble to admit this, but don't you think you've been extremely influential and nearly redefined/shaped jazz music with your unique and varied compositions fusing jazz, funk, hip-hop, R&B etc?

A. Well… I'm afraid to approach this because it seems like the folks who are most influential are also the ones who find it hardest to get their music played! Ronnie Laws, Wilton Felder, Stanley Turrentine… on and on. I'm grateful for any influence my music has had and I hope to be able to back that up with integrity in my lifestyle and my walk with Christ.

Q. What do you think you'd be doing if you weren't a saxophonist?

A. I would absolutely be either a pastor or a language teacher. Hey it's not too late! I am Artist In Residence at the Stax Music Academy and the Stax Museum of American Soul Music. This is a place EVERY American should see right along with Motown, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Graceland!

Q. Any upcoming tour dates, Northern California in particular?

A. We do have a few dates in Northern California as we speak. Rather than mess this up I'll refer your kind readers to my Web site at www.kirkwhalum.com.

Editor's Note: Kirk Whalum's new CD, "The Gospel According to Jazz: Chapter III" is in stores now.