Kim Waters

Saxophonist Kim Waters has built his reputation on a romantic, melody-driven approach within contemporary jazz. Fans first connected with his sound through 1990s releases such as Sax Appeal and Love's Melody, yet wider recognition arrived with the 2001 album From the Heart. In 2008 he paid tribute to Marvin Gaye on I Want You: Love in the Spirit of Marvin, and he has continued to appear regularly on contemporary jazz charts, reaching number 12 with Rhythm and Romance and number three with 2018’s What I Like. Waters is also the father of vocalist Kayla Waters, who appears on the 2022 album That Special Touch.

Born in Havre de Grace, Maryland, Waters began violin lessons at age eight before switching to alto and soprano saxophone during middle school. His father’s jazz collection, along with recordings by soul artists such as Barry White, introduced him to further inspirations including Grover Washington, Jr. and David Sanborn. Private study with saxophonist Mickey Fields followed, and Waters formed the band Phase with his brothers. After high school he attended Hartford Community College for a year and a half, then left to tour with saxophonist Byrd Pressley, whose ensemble also featured Waters’ brothers and pianist Cyrus Chestnut.

Several years alongside Pressley preceded Waters’ 1989 solo debut, the self-produced Sweet and Saxy. The Warlock label, later renamed N-Coded, quickly acquired the recording. He maintained his smooth-jazz direction with additional well-received projects for the imprint: 1991’s Sax Appeal, 1993’s Peaceful Journey, and 1994’s It’s Time for Love. This productive stretch led to 1998’s Love’s Melody and 1999’s One Special Moment.

Waters entered a new chapter in 2001 with From the Heart, the first of several Shanachie Records albums that also included 2002’s Someone to Love You, 2004’s In the Name of Love, 2007’s You Are My Lady, and the 2008 Marvin Gaye homage I Want You: Love in the Spirit of Marvin. He concluded his Shanachie tenure in 2011 with This Heart of Mine, which contained covers of R. Kelly’s “Love Letter” and Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’ “Empire State of Mind.”

In 2013 Waters joined Red River Entertainment for My Loves, featuring vocal contributions from Glenn Jones and his wife Dana Pope. Pope returned on the subsequent Silver Soul alongside singer/actress Zendaya and vocalist Eric Roberson; the holiday collection My Gift to You appeared in 2015. Waters rejoined Shanachie in 2016 with Rhythm and Romance, which reached number 12 on the Jazz Albums chart. During summer 2018 he toured amphitheaters, festivals, and outdoor venues across the United States while previewing material that became What I Like, released that September and peaking at number three on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Albums chart. Shakedown followed in June 2020 and included a cover of Ella Mai’s “Boo’d Up.” That Special Touch arrived in 2022, spotlighting daughter Kayla Waters on a reading of Adele’s “Easy on Me.”