Award-Winning Recording Artist Kirk Whalum’s The Gospel According To Jazz Chapter IV (Rendezvous Music) scored two major award nods; a Grammy® Award nomination for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album and an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Gospel Album.The 19-song, double CD & DVD sets a benchmark for live recording, evidenced by nuanced performances and improvisation thoughtfully conceived and profoundly felt. Recorded and filmed live at the Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., saxophonist Whalum elevates his award-winning Gospel According To Jazz series to a new level masterfully melding Gospel, Contemporary Jazz, and Urban music. The Gospel According To Jazz Chapter IV eloquently demonstrates the deep connections between the genres.
The Gospel According To Jazz Chapter IV features Rick Braun, Norman Brown, Doc Gibbs, Sheléa, John Stoddart, Gerald Veasley, Kevin Whalum, and Kenneth Whalum III. Special guests include Marcus Finnie, Braylon Lacy, Ralph T. Lofton, Kevin Turner, and Kortland Whalum.
The 47th NAACP Image Awards air live February 5, 2016 on TV ONE. The 58th Annual GRAMMY Awards ® air live on CBS February 15, 2016.
About Kirk Whalum:
Forged from his Memphis, TN gospel roots and his 1980’s initiation into the thriving Houston, TX scene, Kirk’s big, rich tenor sound is unmistakably his. The 80’s were highlighted by Kirk’s stepping out of his blossoming sideman role and forming his own band. It was there that Kirk ultimately developed both his “voice” and songwriting. It was also in Houston where jazz pianist Bob James “discovered” him and brought him on tour, which led to five successful albums with Columbia Records, including Cache, Kirk’s first #1 album. As well, Kirk and Bob received a Grammy nomination for their collaboration album, Joined at the Hip. After moving to Los Angeles, Kirk became an in demand session player for top artists like, Barbara Streisand, Al Jarreau, Luther Vandross, Larry Carlton, Quincy Jones and most notably, Whitney Houston, amongst many others. It’s his sax heard on the mega-hit, “I Will Always Love You.” Kirk soon followed that career high point with his phenomenal hit album released on Warner Bros. Records, For You, perhaps the most successful of over 25 solo recordings to date; others include his eclectic Gospel According to Jazz series, (Chapters 1, 2, 3 and 4). An ordained minister, Kirk has earned his Masters of Art in Religion. It’s in this spirit that he serves his community, frequently performs and volunteers at nursing homes, schools and missions. There is also his daily fifteen minute podcast, Bible In Your Ear (BIYE), in which he invites you to listen along as he reads through the Bible in a year. In addition to music and ministry, Kirk has a passion to educate young, aspiring musicians and as such he currently serves as adjunct music professor at Visible Music College in his hometown of Memphis, TN. Kirk is the recipient of numerous awards and acknowledgements for his musical excellence including three Dove Award nominations, an NAACP Image Award nomination and has won two Stellar Awards-Gospel music’s highest honor. An eleven time Grammy® nominee, Kirk won his first Grammy® Award for Best Gospel Song (“It’s What I Do”-featuring Lalah Hathaway) alongside life-long friend and gifted writer, Jerry Peters.
