Church Street Jazz Series presents Kirk Whalum

Date and Time for this Past Event

• Saturday, May 6, 2023  8pm

Location

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Details

Memphis-born saxophonist Kirk Whalum has continually drawn inspiration from the rich musical traditions of that city, including gospel, R&B, blues, and jazz.

Whalum, who has drawn comparisons to artists like John Coltrane and Grover Washington, Jr., has gained acclaim for his cross-pollinated sound, topping the contemporary jazz chart with 1998's For You and winning the Grammy for Best Gospel Song for "It's What I Do" off 2011's The Gospel According to Jazz: Chapter III. He has also recorded with icons like Luther Vandross, Al Green, and Whitney Houston (playing on her classic "I Will Always Love You" off The Bodyguard soundtrack).

Along with working as a member of the smooth jazz trio BWB, he has remained connected to the R&B world, covering the songs of artists like Babyface, Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder, and others. He celebrated his love of gospel with 2017's #Lovecovers and collaborated with an international cadre of performers, including Keiko Matsui and Marcus Miller on 2019's Humanité. In 2021, he released his second holiday album, How Does Christmas Sound?