SAXOPHONIST Kirk Whalum will be part of the line-up for this year’s FirstCaribbean Christmas Jazz show, which comes off at The Plantation Garden Theatre on Sunday.
This year, there will also be a repeat performance the following night at the same venue, and Barbadians will have the opportunity to see Whalum, and other entertainers like Mike Phillips and Kenny Lattimore on stage once again.
Whalum, who is nominated for four Grammy Awards this year, attributes his big, soulful sound to his Memphis, Tennessee gospel roots and his initiation into the Houston, Texas nightclub scene while he was a college student at Texas Southern University.
After moving to Los Angeles, Whalum worked with artistes like Luther Vandross, Barbara Streisand, Al Jarreau, Quincy Jones, Larry Carlton and, most notably, Whitney Houston, with whom he toured for seven years. It is Whalum’s sax that is heard on the mega-hit I Will Always Love You.
Whalum soon followed that career high point with his hit album released on Warner Bros.records, For You, perhaps one of his most successful recordings to date.
Whalum has released 19 albums and received numerous awards and acknowledgements for his musical excellence.
Deryck Walcott, producer of the show, now in its eighth year, said he was happy to have Whalum on his show once again. (PJ)
