Kirk Whalum News

Los Angeles based, North Carolina native Chip Shearin may not be a household name, but you've felt his presence and heard his bass playing as the original bass player who played the iconic bass line for Sugar Hill Gangs, 'Rappers Delight!'

Los Angeles based, North Carolina native Chip Shearin may not be a household name but you've felt his presence and heard his bass playing as the original bass player who played the iconic bass line for Sugar Hill Gangs, 'Rappers Delight!', The bass line that American Band Stand's, Dick Clark said ...”you may not know the rap but they're singing the bass line all over the world!”.. Rolling Stone Magazine's #2 best rap song ever! And the first to chart on billboard and triggering a billion dollar industry. All resting neatly on Shearin's iconic bass line!

The Venetian Las Vegas and GOMM Productions, LLC have partnered to bring a special engagement - GEORGIA ON MY MIND: Celebrating the Music of Ray Charles - to The Venetian Theatre this fall. This groundbreaking new show will feature a host of esteemed stars including Emmy award-winner Clint Holmes, 10-time Grammy award-winning vocal group TAKE 6, six-time Grammy nominee and DownBeat Vocalist of the Year Nnenna Freelon, and Stella Gospel Award and Grammy award-winning saxophone star Kirk Whalum. The show also introduces the Las Vegas Mass Choir, under the direction of James R. Smith and Edie Aikels, and features the Las Vegas All-Star Big Band, under the direction of pianist and conductor, David Loeb. This dynamic ensemble of all-star performers will celebrate the genius of American music, Mr. Ray Charles, through GEORGIA ON MY MIND, in the Venetian Theatre September 18 through October 29, 2014.

Musical Mondays continued at Le Cirque Cafe last night with the Diane Marino Quartet featuring Harry Allen. M&M Records Recording Artist Diane Marino has recorded, performed, and shared the stage with jazz legends Houston Person, Joe Henderson, Wycliffe Gordon, Harry Allen, Pete Escovedo, Tania Maria, Kirk Whalum, pop music icon Felix Cavaliere and more.

In her most daring and revealing project to date, five-time Grammy nominee, Tierney Sutton, pays homage to the revered pop singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell in After Blue: The Joni Mitchell Project. Sutton puts her unique stamp on Joni Mitchell tunes going back to 'Both Sides Now' and 'Big Yellow Taxi' to more recent numbers like 'The Dry Cleaner from Des Moines,' 'Be Cool,' and 'Don't Go to Strangers.' Collaborating with Tierney this evening is Mark Summer on cello and Serge Merlaud on guitar.

In her most daring and revealing project to date, five-time Grammy nominee, Tierney Sutton, pays homage to the revered pop singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell in After Blue: The Joni Mitchell Project. Sutton puts her unique stamp on Joni Mitchell tunes going back to "Both Sides Now" and "Big Yellow Taxi" to more recent numbers like "The Dry Cleaner from Des Moines," "Be Cool," and "Don't Go to Strangers." Collaborating with Tierney this evening is Mark Summer on cello and Serge Merlaud on guitar.

New York Wine Festivals has announced their 5th Annual NYC Winter Wine Festival at the Best Buy Theater on Saturday, February 8, 2014. The Times Square tasting event will feature 250+ wines selected by the experts at Vintry Fine Wines, light accompaniments of pasta, artisan breads, cheeses and hors d'oeuvres, plus sampling tables from area artisan food companies. Attendees will enjoy live contemporary jazz performances during each tasting session by 2013 Smooth Jazz Keyboardist of the Year Brian Simpson and his band, and will also get to take home a luxe wine glass after the tasting.

World renowned jazz flutist and smooth jazz star, Alexander Zonjic and Friends, will play Apollo Night, a benefit concert to raise funds for the “New” McCree Theatre in Flint. The special musical event will help efforts to maintain the unique venue at 5005 Cloverlawn. The facility now houses the Theatre and many other community youth programs.

World renowned jazz flutist and smooth jazz star, Alexander Zonjic and Friends, will play Apollo Night, a benefit concert to raise funds for the “New” McCree Theatre in Flint. The special musical event will help efforts to maintain the unique venue at 5005 Cloverlawn. The facility now houses the Theatre and many other community youth programs.

In its finest form, the concept of fusion in music represents an ideal blend of a wide variety of sources and influences, to create a unique vision that defines exactly who the artist is. And when that artist is as capable and gifted as the outstanding vocalist and songwriter Ron Boustead, the result is Mosaic, his newest CD and his first recording since his acclaimed 2006 release, Blend. The album weaves a wide variety of musical motifs, colors and influences, performed by a remarkable assemblage of musicians, to create an aural pastiche and a finely-honed musical statement.

In its finest form, the concept of fusion in music represents an ideal blend of a wide variety of sources and influences, to create a unique vision that defines exactly who the artist is. And when that artist is as capable and gifted as the outstanding vocalist and songwriter Ron Boustead, the result is Mosaic, his newest CD and his first recording since his acclaimed 2006 release, Blend. The album weaves a wide variety of musical motifs, colors and influences, performed by a remarkable assemblage of musicians, to create an aural pastiche and a finely-honed musical statement.

From the best of jazz and most celebrated classical musicians to the biggest voices from the New York stages, The Smith Center brings three diverse series to Las Vegas from October 2013 through May 2014. The three series bring patrons on a journey deep into the heart of American music to see the masters perform right before their eyes or visit the New York stage without leaving Las Vegas.

The 4th Annual Uptown Charlotte Jazz Fest returns to the Queen City with the sounds and rhythms of some of the world's greatest jazz performers today, June 21-22, 2013, at the Time Warner Cable Uptown Ampitheatre (TWCUA). Following up a nearly sold-out 3rd year with record attendance, the festival has truly become a 'destination event' for true jazz enthusiasts, attracting attendees all along the Southeast including Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Smooth Jazz New York is pleased to announce a star-studded contemporary jazz line up for the 2013 Smooth Cruise Series, now in its 16th year aboard The Spirit of New York cruise ship.

Producers of the 4th Annual Uptown Charlotte Jazz Fest have announced Jazz/R&B musician and instrumentalist, Brian Culbertson, will perform during the two-night festival on Friday, June 21. Culbertson joins BWB, a jazz band named after the three members: guitarist Norman Brown, saxophonist Kirk Whalum and trumpeter Rick Braun. More artists will be announced in the near future.

The 4th Annual Uptown Charlotte Jazz Fest returns to the Queen City with the sounds and rhythms of some of the world's greatest jazz performers June 21-22, 2013, at the Time Warner Cable Uptown Ampitheatre (TWCUA). Following up a nearly sold-out 3rd year with record attendance, the festival has truly become a "destination event" for true jazz enthusiasts, attracting attendees all along the Southeast including Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

The RRazz Room, San Francisco's premier nightclub, presents the return of Grammy Award-winning jazz legend, Diane Schuur, nicknamed "Deedles," to celebrate the release of her recent album, THE GATHERING. The CD features special guests Alison Krauss, Vince Gill, Mark Knopfler, Larry Carlton and Kirk Whalum.

The RRazz Room, San Francisco's premier nightclub, presents the return of Grammy Award-winning jazz legend, Diane Schuur, nicknamed "Deedles," to celebrate the release of her recent album, THE GATHERING. The CD features special guests Alison Krauss, Vince Gill, Mark Knopfler, Larry Carlton and Kirk Whalum.

Tracey E. Edmonds, President and COO of Our Stories Films today announced the appointment of GRAMMY® Award winner Steve Lawrence as the Executive Director of Faith Outreach and Content for the newly created ALRIGHT TV, a digital collaboration with YouTube.

The RRazz Room, San Francisco's premier nightclub, welcomed the debut of Bistro Award-winning vocalist Nicole Henry on August 29 and 30, 2012. Check out photos from her performance below!