by Don Mooney 10-2-2023
Memphis, TN—Memphis native Kirk Whalum hasn’t forgotten his home-grown, home-spun musical roots. A musical wanderer between gospel and jazz Kirk has used his art to bridge cultures and forge meaningful relationships through music. Like many of the great Memphis musical legends before him Kirk bears the torch well and the music world, along with Memphis, is the beneficiary.
Though his yearly schedule takes him to places beyond the banks of the Mississippi each year the sax legend pens in two dates for hometown fans at Crosstown Arts. Each time he shares the stage with some of his friends he’s met and shared the stage.
If you’ve been fortunate, as this writer, to plant your feet in Bluff City, you’ve met some of his friends over the years such as Jazzmeia Horn, Dave Koz, Bob James and Maysa. Not to mention members of the Whalum clan who’ve been touched with the same musical gift along with other home-spun Memphians whom Kirk includes in his Crosstown shows.
The second Kafe Kirk Crosstown Arts show of 2023 featured an artist whose recognized around the world, Keiko Matsu. Kirk and Keiko have been musical friends for over 30 years. Both can be heard on each others records, a collaboration that began some 30-years ago according to Keiko.
Tonights band was backed by his Memphis rhytmn friends on guitar and bass minus drummer Marcus Finnie (touring with Kurt Elling in Europe). His replacement Cuban-born Jimmy Branly was more that adequate for the task. Of course the keyboard mastery of John Stoddard filled out the evenings lineup.
The first half of the 90 minute session featured textbook Kirk laying down some soul-laced jazz funk fill with Memphis passion. As mentioned earlier bouncing between gospel and jazz.
Keiko, as with most guest, conversed intimately with Kirk on her beginnings, background and family prior to her performance. A standard Kirk has established for Crosstown shows that gives the audience a close, intimate insight with the artist thats rare. From there Keiko played songs she collaborated with Kirk in the past and a song from her latest release Euphoria.
