In show business there is an old saying "the two hardest acts to follow are animal acts and children." The point was proven to thousands of Jazz fans after witnessing the performances of the Summer Jazz Workshop All-Stars at the Houston International Jazz Festival at the Verizon Wireless Theater August 5, 6, and 7th. Although the headliners put on great performances, the buzz after each night was about the children musicians enrolled in the Summer Jazz Workshop. It …

Whenever saxophonist Kirk Whalum comes to Houston, Texas, it is just like a family reunion of sorts. As a product of Texas Southern University, a protégé of Arnett Cobb and a veteran of Houston’s local club scene, Kirk has a long and storied history in the city. In addition, he also has a strong and affectionate fan base as well. Since becoming a national recording artist during the 1980s, Kirk Whalum has performed in Houston numerous times; however, on the evening of Februar …

Historically speaking, jazz has often served as a springboard for change and a mechanism to highlight any number of community-oriented activities. Although the genre is most commonly known as an art form and a source of entertainment, numerous charitable organizations have used jazz to bring focus to their overall mission. As has been the case, benefit performances have also been used as an entertainment incentive towards helping many of these groups accomplish their goals. Out …

Looking back at jazz’s rich history and tradition, female vocalists have always had a stand-alone relevance as one of the genre’s most significant influences. Without a doubt, the music of Bessie Smith, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Carmen McRae, Nina Simone, Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington and Ma Rainey have served as a series of guideposts to light the way for others to follow. But the shoes of those legendary mistresses of song hav

One of the more iconic figures in modern day jazz came to Houston’s Arena Theater on November 15, 2008 to bring entertainment of a different color to the Space City. Considered by many to be the poster boy for smooth jazz ideology, saxophonist Kenny G has been at the forefront of the industry since recording his chart-topping album ‘Duotones’ in 1986. Following that success came ‘Silhouette in 1988,’ another notable release commanding considerable acclaim. Since th