Smooth Jazz Cruises

The Donloe Q & A: Jonathan But...

*For the first time in his long and storied career, jazz guitarist and vocalist, Jonathan Butler (So Strong) has put together his own ‘Soul of Summer’ concert tour, featuring singer Maysa and saxophonist Eric Darius.

Butler, who is originally from South Africa, recently said he, Maysa (A Woman in Love) and Darius (On A Mission) are doing the tour to pay tribute to some of the most unforgettable soul music of all time.

The trio, who have been touring various venues around the country this summer, are set to bring their act to the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach Summer Jazz Festival on Aug. 5.

Other cities set to get the tour include Temecula, San Diego, Richmond, VA, Detroit and the Bay area in Northern California. Previous stops included Memphis, Phoenix, Cincinnati, Hampton, VA and San Francisco. Some of Butler’s hits include Falling In Love With Jesus, Sarah, Sarah; “Lies” and “Holding On.”

I caught up with Butler, who vacillates between gospel, smooth jazz and R&B, to talk about the tour.

Darlene Donloe : Why did you want to do this tour?

Jonathan Butler : I wanted to do something on my own. It was a great way to present a package tour of music I love and artists I love. Fans can hear our current things.   I have 15 CDs.  I have a lot of music. I chose this music. It fits well with Maysa. She’s working with Angela Bofill. She sings her music in the show.  There is a good flow. I want to do this kind of tour year end and year out.

DD: Why did you choose Maysa and Eric Darius for your first tour?

JB: I like her music. I love her voice. We’ve been friends for awhile. Maysa sang with me awhile back on my Do You Love Me CD and I recently worked with Eric on a jazz cruise. I’d worked with them both and had wonderful experiences. With both of them as part of the tour, I don’t need to sweat. It’s a great mixture.

DD: So chemistry was important?

JB: It was important that we all vibed well together because my concept for ‘The Summer of Soul’ is unlike other all-star shows. Instead of just playing our hits, we are going to take the audience on a journey through the very best of the soul music from the 60s, 70s, 80s and right on up to the present. We’re going to be digging up some gems that people love but haven’t heard in years! I have my daughter Jodie also on background. We have some fresh energy.

Smooth Cruise: Kirk Whalum and Jeff Golub « Smooth Jazz Buzz

August 10th, 6:30PM

KIRK WHALUM

In a career that spans the decades, Kirk Whalum has a sound uniquely his; one that leaves an indelible imprint on his listeners. Soulful, passionate, stirring are the words most often used to describe his music. Born of his 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 were highlighted by his stepping out of his sideman role to form his own band. With this, Kirk ultimately developed both his “voice” and songwriting on the local club scene.

It was also in Houston where jazz pianist Bob James “discovered” him and brought him on tour, leading to five successful albums with Columbia Records, 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, and most notably, Whitney Houston, amongst many others. It is his saxophone 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 his 25+ solo recordings to date; others include his eclectic Gospel According to Jazz series,(Chapters 1, 2 and 3).

Kirk is the recipient of numerous awards and acknowledgments 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. His most current releases (on Mack Ave. Records) are: The Gospel According to Jazz, Chapter 3 (double CD & DVD) and Everything is Everything – the Music of Donny Hathaway.

JEFF GOLUB

NYC-based Jeff Golub’s kinetic blend of jazz, blues, soul, and rock has made him one of contemporary jazz/blues’ hottest artists. Originally from Akron, OH, the guitar virtuoso attended Boston’s prestigious Berklee School of Music, where he honed his considerable skill as a guitarist. In 1980, shortly after Jeff arrived in NYC, he was invited to join Billy Squier’s band, which led to his performing on several albums and three world tours.

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