Kafé Kirk: Kirk Whalum & The Baylor Project

Crosstown Arts presents Grammy-winning saxophonist **Kirk Whalum** for **Kafé Kirk**, an ongoing jazz series in Crosstown Theater featuring musical and spiritual collaborations with special guest artists. This concert will feature legendary group, **The Baylor Project**.
A husband. A wife. An astonishing duo built on love, family, faith, culture and community.
These are the things that power **The Baylor Project** featuring **Jean Baylor** and **Marcus Baylor**. This enticing collaboration is steeped in the heart and soul of jazz. As the children of Pastors, Marcus’ and Jean's musical roots were planted deep within the church, and it was there that the road was paved for the influence of jazz, gospel, blues and soul to make its mark. Their debut CD "The Journey", released on their own label, Be A Light, topped the Billboard Jazz Chart at Number 8 in 2017 and a year later garnered 2 GRAMMY® Nominations for Best Jazz Vocal Album and Best Traditional R&B Performance. Two years later during one of the most challenging years in recent history, The Baylors released their single, “Sit On Down” in 2020 which earned a 3 rd GRAMMY® Nomination for Best Traditional R&B Performance, solidifying The Baylor Project as an undeniable force. Their second album, “Generations,” released in 2021 earned the duo its first NAACP Image Award win for Outstanding Jazz Album- Vocal and its 4 th GRAMMY® Nomination for Best Jazz Vocal Album. And their first live album, “The Evening : Live At APPARATUS” earned The Baylors their 5 th and 6 th GRAMMY® Nominations for Best Jazz Vocal Album and Best Improvised Jazz Solo. A collaboration with Adam Blackstone and Russell Ferrante earned them a 7 th GRAMMY® Nomination for the original song “Vulnerable (Live)”, from the live recording, “Legacy: The Instrumental Jawn.” Most recently, in partnership with APOGEE Electronics, The Baylor Project received their 8 th GRAMMY® Nomination for an impromptu live, in-studio performance of the age-old spiritual “Walk With Me, Lord.”
Marcus and Jean also expanded into television, writing, produced and performing the new theme song, “GOOD LIFE” for Season 6 of the Tamron Hall Show!
The Baylor Project pays homage to their wide-ranging musical influences, and in doing so generate an eclectic sound whose overall effect is spiritual, buoyant, feel-good music.
Soulful. Melodic. Authentic. The Baylor Project.