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Jazz Heavyweights, Sample and Whalum to Perform at Texas Southern University (1662 hits)

Texas Southern and Jazz greats Kirk Whalum and Joe Sample will partner up to present a Jazz Lovers Weekend as TSU has scheduled concerts on TSU’s campus for the first week of December. On Friday, Dec. 7th, at 7 p.m. in Sawyer Auditorium, Grammy winning saxophonist Kirk Whalum will embark on his inaugural Christmas tour aptly titled “A Gospel According To Jazz Christmas.” Known for his much celebrated recording and live performance series, The Gospel According to Jazz, which featured the chart topping gospel anthem, Falling in Love With Jesus and the 2011 Grammy winning ‘Best Gospel Song’, It’s What I Do, Kirk will share the stage with world renowned pianist Keiko Matsui and gospel phenom vocalist Amber Bullock. The package will also feature Kirk’s brother, vocalist Kevin Whalum and musical director, keyboardist and vocalist, John Stoddart.

Tickets are $20 for floor seating and $10 for balcony level. Students from TSU's Fine Arts program will host the pre-show.

The Joe Sample Orchestra at Texas Southern will present their U.S., premier concert of “Children of the Sun” on Sunday, December 9th at 4 p.m in the Sawyer Auditorium. “Children of the Sun” is a suite for Jazz Orchestra composed by Dr. Joe Sample. The audience will be privileged to other "never before heard" releases. The concert is free to the public.

“The joy of the Christmas season is contagious! And the one thing it must include is music,” said Whalum. Keiko Matsui, Amber Bullock, and I will invite the presence of the Spirit in a fresh new way as we present the most creative, imaginative, meaningful and joyful Christmas celebration ever? Don’t miss it.”