Two powerhouse jazz musicians shared the stage at the 2024 Omaha Jazz Experience on July 20th, creating a memorable evening for jazz fans. The crowd was completely captivated by the extraordinary talent and dynamic performances from both Kirk Whalum and Jonathan Butler.

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Presents Grammy Award Winning Jazz Musician

Norman Brown

Omaha Jazz Festival

Friday, June 24, 2022
Stinson Park / Aksarben Village
6:30–10 PM

2024 Omaha Jazz Experience Musicians

Kirk Whalum

Soulful, passionate, stirring…these are the words most often used to describe Kirk Whalum’s music. He is known for being one of the best American R&B and smooth jazz saxophonists and songwriters.

Whalum is a twelve-time Grammy nominee and was awarded a Grammy for Best Gospel Song (“It’s What I Do”––featuring Lalah Hathaway) alongside lifelong friend and gifted songwriter, Jerry Peters.

Kirk is known for his sax performances with top artists like Barbara Streisand, Al Jarreau, Luther Vandross, Larry Carlton, Quincy Jones, and most notably, Whitney Houston, amongst many others. It’s his sax heard on the mega-hit, “I Will Always Love You.” In addition to his many solo projects, Kirk was also a member of the popular soul/jazz group, BWB, which features Kirk as the “W” of the group with Rick Braun (trumpet) and Norman Brown (guitar). The Grammy and NAACP award-winning musician’s genuine love for connecting with people, coupled with his consummate musicianship and sheer passion for music, has made him one of the brightest stars in Contemporary Jazz for close to four decades. Known as the Zen saxophonist, Najee has collaborated with Prince, Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, and Herbie Hancock, among others. His latest album, titled Savior Faire is Najee’s sophisticated exploration into the world of sensuality and romance, interspersed with fantastic, spirited grooves that have made Najee a favorite the world over.

Jonathan Butler

Jonathan Butler is a South African singer-songwriter and guitarist, whose music is often classified as R&B, jazz fusion, or worship music.

Jonathan’s commitment to his craft came to fruition with his self-titled debut album, which received a Grammy nomination for the pop hit “Lies.” An instrumental “Going Home” earned him another Grammy nomination and the mid-tempo ballad “Sarah, Sarah” confirmed Butler’s place in popular music.

He has recorded a dozen solo albums and made more than 25 guest appearances on records by Marcus Miller, the Yellowjackets, and Dionne Warwick, among others. A prolific songwriter, he has written for pop artists including Patti LaBelle, Kenny Loggins, and Al Jarreau. Although he has been likened to such jazz guitarists as George Benson, Wes Montgomery, and John Scofield, Butler has shied away from such comparisons, calling himself a “singer who plays guitar”.