Kirk Whalum News

REELZ today announced it's kicking off 2016 with the return of fan favorite original series including new episodes of Gangsters: America's Most Evil and Autopsy: The Last Hours of

Just announced! The NYC debut of ELIJAH JAMAL QUINTET and Guests performing on Friday, September 4!  The quintet is led by saxophonist and composer Elijah Jamal Balbed, a Washington DC native named 'Best Tenor Saxophonist' and 'Best New Jazz Musician' by the Washington City Paper. 

Backstage at the Lincoln, the Lincoln Theatre's intimate, local concert series, has scheduled three events for the fall. For the first time, one of the scheduled events will be a theatre production flanked by two jazz concerts. The Backstage at the Lincoln series offers concertgoers the extraordinary opportunity to be seated on stage with a featured local artist, providing an up-close-and-personal performance set against the hand-painted grandeur of the Lincoln's rare Egyptian Revival-style motif.

July is a packed month at The Nash, kicking off with a 4th of July bash with the Bad Cactus Brass Band. The month also marks the beginning of the Catch A Rising Star Series, comprised of Arizona musicians ages 18 to 24, who have been specially selected by The Nash,. The Series provides a platform for these emerging artists to gain prominence in the jazz community.

With inviting, optimistic songs and a highly anticipated new full length album on Innervision Records, vocalist and songwriter Aysha showcases her sexy, sensual style with a dynamic mix of top artists and producers in contemporary urban jazz

Hotel Nikko San Francisco and Michael Feinstein are thrilled to welcome internationally acclaimed pianist, composer and humanitarian Keiko Matsui to Feinstein's at the Nikko for three performances only - tonight, May 7 (8 p.m.); Friday, May 8 (8 p.m.); and Saturday, May 9 (7 p.m.). Tickets for Keiko Matsui range in price from $45-$60 and are available now by calling 866.663.1063 or visiting www.ticketweb.com.

One of the featured attractions at this year's Berks Jazz Festival (its 25th anniversary show) will be a special performance on Saturday, April 18, 2015, at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Reading, PA called "Remembering Joe Sample."

Music and politics unite at The Recording Academy's 2015 GRAMMYs on the Hill Awards where GRAMMY-winning artist/songwriter/producer Alicia Keys will be presented with the Recording Artists' Coalition Award

Hotel Nikko San Francisco and Michael Feinstein are thrilled to welcome internationally acclaimed pianist, composer and humanitarian Keiko Matsui to Feinstein's at the Nikko for three performances only - Thursday, May 7 (8 p.m.); Friday, May 8 (8 p.m.); and Saturday, May 9 (7 p.m.). Tickets for Keiko Matsui range in price from $45-$60 and are available now by calling 866.663.1063 or visiting www.ticketweb.com.

It seems that these days everybody has Georgia on their minds. In fact, those lucky enough to be named 'Georgia' have a treat waiting for them at The Venetian Las Vegas box office.

GEORGIA ON MY MIND: Celebrating the Music of Ray Charles was welcomed by The Venetian Las Vegas with a star-studded event coinciding with the birthday of Ray Charles. The groundbreaking new show features 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 artist of the year Nnenna Freelon, and Stella Gospel Award and GRAMMY award-winning saxophone star Kirk Whalum. The show also features 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. Scroll down for photos from the opening!

The Venetian Las Vegas will GEORGIA ON MY MIND: Celebrating The Music of Ray Charles. Starring award-winning artists Clint Holmes, TAKE 6, Nnenna Freelon, Kirk Whalum, with special guests The Las Vegas Mass Choir and Las Vegas All-Star Big Band, the show runs today, September 18 through October 29.

The Venetian Las Vegas will GEORGIA ON MY MIND: Celebrating The Music of Ray Charles. Starring award-winning artists Clint Holmes, TAKE 6, Nnenna Freelon, Kirk Whalum, with special guests The Las Vegas Mass Choir and Las Vegas All-Star Big Band, the show runs September 18 through October 29.

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.