JAZZ

Collaborating in 2002 as BWB, Norman Brown, Kirk Whalum and Rick Braun recorded the album Groovin’. The title track hit #1 and was followed by a popular US tour in Fall 2002. After a stellar appearance on the Smooth Cruise in 2016, they return this season for another amazing night of music!

NORMAN BROWN
Picking up a guitar at age 8, Norman Brown was initially inspired by Jimi Hendrix but it was his father’s preference for Wes Montgomery that set Norman on his stylistic journey. After high school, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue music, attending the Musicians Institute where he also taught for a time.

Playing with his own group in local clubs and drawing comparisons to George Benson, he was discovered and signed to the fledgling MoJazz label, a division of Motown. His debut, “Just Between Us” was followed by the gold-certified “After The Storm” and “Better Days Ahead.” Moving to Warner Bros., he released “Celebration,” which first teamed him with producer Paul Brown. The follow-up, “Just Chillin’,” earned him Grammy® recognition in the best pop instrumental category. Next, on “West Coast Coolin’,” Norman tested his skills as a vocalist, a move embraced by the urban Adult Contemporary radio market and found him topping the charts, with a fan base that’s been expanding over the years. His compilation “The Very Best Of Norman Brown” was one of the best-selling smooth jazz albums of 2005 and 2006.

His 2010 release “Sending My Love” with its seamless blend of pop, R&B and jazz marked his 8th solo album. 2012 saw the release of “24/7”, in collaboration with saxophonist Gerald Albright.

KIRK WHALUM
Grammy award winner Kirk Whalum boasts a career spanning the decades, with a sound uniquely his: one that leaves an indelible imprint on his listeners. Soulful, passionate, stirring are words most often used to describe his music. Born of Memphis, TN gospel roots and his 1980‘s initiation into the thriving Houston, TX nightclub scene, Kirk’s big, rich tenor sound is unmistakably his. The 80’s marked his stepping out of a sideman role to form his own band. This ultimately developed both his “voice” and songwriting on the local club scene.

While in Houston, jazz pianist Bob James “discovered” him and brought him on tour, leading to five successful albums including Cache, Kirk’s first #1 album. Kirk and Bob also received a Grammy nomination for their collaboration on the album Joined at the Hip. After moving to Los Angeles, Kirk became an in-demand session player for top artists including Barbara Streisand, Al Jarreau, Luther Vandross, Larry Carlton, Quincy Jones, Whitney Houston, among others. It is his sax heard on the mega-hit, “I Will Always Love You.” He soon followed that career high point with his hit album For You, perhaps the most successful of his 25+ solo recordings to date.

He is the recipient of numerous awards and acknowledgments including three Dove Award nominations, an NAACP Image Award nomination, and won two Stellar Awards, Gospel music’s highest honor. An 11-time Grammy nominee, Kirk won his first Grammy for Best Gospel Song (“It’s What I Do,” feat. Lalah Hathaway) alongside life-long friend and gifted writer, Jerry Peters. Kirk’s most current releases include The Gospel According to Jazz, Chapter 3 (2010), Everything is Everything – the Music of Donny Hathaway (2010), and 2012’s Romance Language, featuring his brother Kevin on vocals.

RICK BRAUN
No one on today’s contemporary urban jazz scene knows more about the power of perfect, timely partnerships (or what it takes to keep the #1 hits coming) than Rick Braun. After launching the millennium with “Shake It Up” with Boney James (sharing a Best Collaboration award for their 2000 hit reigning at #1 on the Billboard chart for 11 weeks) and later hooking up with Kirk Whalum and Norman Brown as BWB, he toured as part of Jazz Attack, then with Peter White and Jonathan Butler in 2005 and 2007. He continued to collaborate in 2007 teaming up with saxman Richard Elliot for RnR. Their duet project immediately hit #1 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz chart and its catchy title track single was an instant smash, holding at #1 on Radio and Records’ (R&R) Contemporary Jazz airplay chart for over two months. A 2008 tour followed.

Though the years Braun has also become a top genre producer, working with Elliot, Antoine, Willie & Lobo, David Benoit, and Jeff Golub, among others. He set a record at the 2002 National Contemporary Jazz Awards in San Diego by winning a total of five trophies, including Best Male Artist, Best Album (“Kisses in the Rain,” which hit #1 on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz Chart), Song of the Year (the title cut) and Best Brass Player.

Rick’s recent releases include Sings with Strings (2011) and the 2012 holiday album Swingin’ in the Snow.

Note: lineups may be subject to change.