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New Jersey-born but Richmond, Virginia-bred, Chris Whiteman has often been described as an old soul—a devotee of classic jazz who finds fresh depth and delight in the Great American Songbook, the standards that have defined jazz for generations. He is a performer, educator, soloist, and in-demand sideman who has appeared at top venues across the U.S., including New York’s Blue Note and Birdland, the Hollywood Bowl, and the Monterey Jazz Festival. Chris has served on the music faculty at the University of Miami and the College of William & Mary, and is a Signature Artist Arranger for Musicnotes.com, the world’s largest online retailer of sheet music.
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Chris Whiteman, a native of Montclair, began his musical journey with the trumpet at age 10. At 13 he was introduced to the guitar, which quickly became his primary focus. Initially inspired by blues and rock guitarists such as Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Guy, and B.B. King, Chris later studied classical guitar in high school. After graduation, he enrolled at Virginia Commonwealth University as a classical guitar major before shifting his focus to jazz. He later transferred to the University of Miami, where he earned both a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Music in jazz studies.
As an educator, Chris has held faculty positions at the University of Miami and The College of William & Mary. He was also recently featured as an artist-in-residence at Old Dominion University, presenting workshops and featured performances with both his quartet and the university jazz ensemble. He has established himself as an online educator with a YouTube channel of over 45,000 subscribers and 8.7 million cumulative views, along with a Patreon-based educational platform supporting over 1,000 subscribers.
Chris performs regularly with his own ensembles and as a sideman with a wide range of artists. He spent three years touring with acclaimed jazz vocalist Veronica Swift and appears on her Veronica Swift release on Mack Avenue Music Group. He has also appeared alongside smooth jazz trumpeter Rick Braun and vocalist Stephanie Nakasian, and served as musical director for vocalist Wyatt Michael of The Voice Season 21.
In addition to his sideman work, Chris co-led the Campbell-Whiteman Project with guitarist Royce Campbell and released the trio album Organ Trio under his own name. He has also appeared under his name at the Rochester International Jazz Festival. His performances have taken him to leading venues and festivals throughout the United States and Europe, including the Blue Note Jazz Club, Birdland, the Monterey Jazz Festival, and the Hollywood Bowl.
In addition to his work as a performer and educator, Chris is recognized as one of the preeminent arrangers for solo jazz guitar and serves as a signature artist arranger for Musicnotes.com, the world’s largest online sheet music retailer.