Kurt Elling at Catalina's April 20-22

Since his debut release in 1995, premiere Grammy-winning vocalist Kurt Elling has had undeniable success. Joining with legendary producer, Don Was, Elling gives new life to gems by The Beatles, Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, and Stevie Wonder in the February 2011 Concord Jazz release, The Gate. The New York Times calls Elling the “standout male vocalist of our time,” and The Gate, Elling’s follow-up to his Grammy-winning Dedicated to You, is among his strongest albums—and perhaps the finest of his career. Jazz with Elling at CATALINA’s – Wednesday, April 20th through Friday the 22nd. Stage time is 8pm each night with an additional 10pm show on Thursday and Friday. Catalina’s is located at 6725 Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. For tickets call 323-466-2210.

Set for release on February 8, 2011 on Concord Jazz, a division of Concord Music Group, The Gate is a musical collection where boundaries cease to exist, a sensibility enhanced by producer Don Was (Rolling Stones, Bonnie Raitt, Bob Dylan). “I first heard Kurt on the local jazz station and was knocked out by his exotic blend of soul, technique, intelligence and charismatic hipness,” Was recalls. “He made this diverse collection of songs his own—and we had a blast.”

The Gate points Elling into a new and satisfyingly emotional direction, making a deeply personal statement out of the music of King Crimson, Joe Jackson, Stevie Wonder and the Beatles—in addition to providing a new and vibrant understanding of Miles Davis, Bill Evans and Herbie Hancock. The Gate features longtime associate, Laurence Hobgood on piano, Bob Mintzer on sax, John McLean on guitar, John Patitucci on bass, percussionist Lenny Castro and two drummers, Terreon Gulley and Kobie Watkins.

His phrasing is cool and meditative as he ventures into areas usually reserved for instrumentalists. As a lyricist, Elling breathes new life into gems previously known only for their melodies. “His words are informed by a powerful poetic spirit,” said poet and Bollingen Prize winner Robert Creeley. “Kurt Elling takes us into a world of sacred particulars.”

The Gate closes with a song that represents Elling's continued dedication to exploring jazz's past and blazing a trail for its future. Composed by the late Don Grolnick, “Nighttown, Lady Bright,” featuring spoken words written by Duke Ellington and additional lyrics by Elling—who wished to close the album with a cinematic depiction of a jazz musician’s life.

2010 garnered Elling enjoyed success kicking off with an invitation from President Obama to perform at the first State Dinner. After being GRAMMY nominated for every album of his career to date, nine thus far, Elling won the GRAMMY for “Best Jazz Vocal Album” for Dedicated to You: Kurt Elling Sings the Music of Coltrane and Hartman (2009). Elling then went on to be awarded “Best Male Vocalist” in the JazzTimes Readers' Poll and “Top Male Vocalist” in the 58th DownBeat Critics Poll. In addition, the Jazz Journalists Association named Kurt Elling its “Male Singer of the Year” in June.