Curtis living to the sax..
‘LOCAL’ STIGERS PLAYS 4 IRISH GIGS
HE may be an internationallyacclaimed singer songwriter but US native Curtis Stigers classes himself as a ‘local’ in one Irish town.
The saxophonist and guitarist (58) is heading back to Ireland for the second time in 18 months this week to play four dates.
He is also looking forward to sinking a pint of Guinness when he reaches his first venue in Co. Kilkenny.
The legendary performer is gigging in Navan, Co. Meath, where he describes himself as a local due to his friendship with composer Brian Byrne, a native who brought him out on his last visit there in November 2022.
Stigers has played for presidents and princes, appeared in the Ted Movies, recorded 13 albums, written songs with Carole King and duetted with Al Green, Shawn Colvin and Tom Jones.
He also knows the best curry house in Navan, though he remains tight-lipped about it.
Love
Stigers is loving Ireland and is trying to make up for the fact that he didn’t tour here much as a charttopper, despite his single ‘I Wonder Why’ hitting the top five here.
He also co-wrote the Emmy nominated theme tune to Sons of Anarchy, the TV hit series, which was partly filmed in the North.
Stigers said: “I went a long time without playing Ireland and I can’t understand why. I’ve a new agent who was eager for me to play here and now, I just can’t get enough of it.
“‘I Wonder Why’ went to the Top Ten all over the World. I was awarded the Best International Newcomer at the IRMA Music Awards back then and I performed with Paul Brady, of whom I am a huge fan and had met him before on tour.
“He was getting a lifetime achievement award and I said to him, why don’t you play piano on the song ‘I Wonder Why’ and I’ll play the saxophone on your song Crazy Dreams.
“I’m trying to do as many shows as I can in a new format for myself that shows off the arc of my career, spanning from my song writing to the pop hits to jazz and everything in between.”
He said after 20 years touring with a jazz band he now gets to sing his first few records as they were from the pop era.
Stigers continued: “So I am coming to Ireland this time with my guitar and saxophone and bringing a bass and piano player to help with the jazz side of things.
“It will be a very entertaining evening. I’m also looking forward to having a pint of Guinness when I get to Kilkenny. I have to say I do love it..maybe a bit too much.
First
“The first half of the show I am going to delve into the catalogue of my first few records including ‘You’re All That Matters’ and then I will show that I grew up as a musician. I wasn’t a good pop star. “But I wrote ‘I Wonder Why and All That Matters’ so they are my babies and I’ll never get tired of singing them.”
His connection with Ireland is thanks to composer Brian Byrne. Stigers revealed: “Last year, he asked me to play with the RTE orchestra in the National Concert Hall and he also arranged to play in his hometown in Navan where he grew up in his father’s barber’s shop.”
The first of his four shows start on Thursday, in Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny, Solstice Theatre in Navan, Ulster Hall in Belfast and then onto the Pavillion in Dun Laoghaire.
For tickets and more details of the shows visit the website curtisstigers.com.