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| Kirk Whalum planning very special South African show When globally renowned saxophonist, Kirk Whalum, jets into South Africa to play at the upcoming Mapungubwe Jazz Festival, he's bringing with him plans for a "very special show" tailor-made for the many fans who will be journeying to Limpopo to see him in action. Speaking just shortly before he arrives for the festival, taking place in Polokwane on December 17th, Whalum revealed that he's planning "a few surprises for our show in South Africa". "If I let too much on, then it won't be a surprise but you can be sure of at least one predictable surprise - my brother Kevin who performs a song on the Gospel record that touched a chord in South Africa, "Tata You Jesus", " the award-winning artist says. "Kevin will be doing his thing again in South Africa, right alongside his big brother!" For Whalum, who began his recording career in the mid-80s and has earned multi-platinum sales and awards ever since, South Africa occupies a very significant role in his life. "How can I sum up my excitement and enthusiasm for South Africa?" Whalum says. "It's very difficult. The biggest moment in my life and career so far happened in South Africa when I stood on stage with Whitney Houston in 1994. We performed what happens to be the first song I learned (at age 12) on my saxophone, "Amazing Grace"! Since then I have had the privilege of performing there several times - my wife and kids love South Africa too. Not so much the land, which is breath-taking, but the people!" It's not just in his live performances that Whalum has such a strong connection to South Africa - he has a longstanding relationship with artists from this country including Jonathan Butler whom Whalum calls his "favorite artist, period". "I'm not sure why Jonathan and other South African artists touched me so profoundly, " he says. "But the interesting thing is that the connection happened long before there was any inkling that my music would someday make it in your country. In fact I saw a video by Jonathan called "Baby, Please Don't Take It" and was transfixed immediately. I knew (as I told my friend, pianist Bob James) that this guy had something unique. I feel God's power when he (Butler) sings." Whalum says that he still looks forward to being exposed to more new music from South Africa during his visits and is honored to be sharing the stage with South African global music icons like Hugh Masekela and Abdullah Ibrahim. "I am very aware of the music of these two giants . they both enjoy worldwide acclaim and growing up in Memphis, Tennessee Hugh Masekela was a favorite of mine." A highlight of Whalum's upcoming shows is likely to be the repertoire drawn from his most recent recording Kirk Whalum Performs The Babyface Songbook. Asked about why he chose to perform the work of the famous songwriter and producer Whalum says that he has tried, in recent years, to alternate between recording CDs like Unconditional, Into My Soul and The Promise, which celebrate different and original aspects of who he is, with those like For You and The Babyface Songbook which he does for pure enjoyment. "The Babyface Songbook features me, not as a writer, arranger or performer but simply as an 'interpreter of melodies'. The profoundly simple yet poignant melodies of Babyface where the perfect subject for using this approach. While many tributes and renditions have been made of his songs, very few have spotlighted only the melodies. You'll be surprised at how powerful his songs are even without the help of the lyrics. I consider him (Babyface) alongside people like Sammy Cohn, Burt Bacharach and Cole Porter as a truly great American songwriter." Joining Whalum at the Mapungubwe Jazz Festival will be Ibrahim, Masekela, Letta Mbulu and Caiphus Semenya, Jimmy Dludlu, Jonas Gwangwa, African Jazz Pioneers, Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuse, Selaelo Selota, Umanji, Jeff Maluleke, Malebo, Geoff Mapaya and Movement. With a line-up like this, there is every reason to be at the Mapungubwe Jazz Festival taking place at the Polokwane Cricket Stadium on December 17th. The jazz festival forms part of the Mapungubwe Arts Festival (which runs from December 9th to 17th), the combination making for an unmissable festive season outing. write your comments about the article :: © 2005 Jazz News :: home page |