Memphis legend Kortland Whalum brings his versatile vocal stylings to Rudy's Jazz Room for a night of sonic exploration and celebration. Whether a classic take on an R&B song of old, an original composition from the man himself or a brand new composition just for the occasion, Whalum will draw upon his new-found collaborative efforts with saxophonist Adam Larson to present a truly special night of music for the Memphis community. With a demanding schedule that has Kortland singing as a part of Cabaret, guesting with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and working on his own projects, this show is not to be missed.
Saxophonist-Composer Adam Larson began composing as a teenager, writing contrafacts over some of his favorite jazz standards. A fan of multiple genres of music touching the corners of R&B, Rap, Classical, Jazz and a bit of everything in between, Larson has since written nearly 200 original compositions that lean on his affinity for genre-blending sounds, motifs and ear-candy, garnering him critically-acclaimed distinctions from Downbeat Magazine as a "prolific composer and a compositional prowess for lyricism" and from The New York Times as a composer whose "compositions are thoughtful, with ample breathing room for any soloists". All About Jazz also noted "he possesses a rhythmic sophistication and compositional cleverness that should help him distinguish himself from the pack of young tenorists on the current scene".
Joining Kortland and Adam will be Steve Lee on piano, Grammy-Award winning bassist Clark Sommers and drummer Henry Conerway III.
