Kim Waters going ‘Sweet and Saxy’ at Blues Alley

The “once a year guys,” as Blues Alley manager Kris Ross calls them, are always a hit when they come to town. This is especially true in the case of sultry jazz saxophonist Kim Waters, who is performing at the club Saturday night with his band: Greg Grainger on drums, Allen Smith on keyboard and his brother James Waters on bass. “It’s almost like they are part of the Blues Alley family,” Ross says. “[Kim Waters] knows everybody here — the wait staff, the kitchen expediter — a lot of the guys.”

Waters, a native of Aberdeen, Md., has built a solid career connecting with his fans and giving them what they want to hear. He has recorded 16 albums as a leader since his first release, “Sweet and Saxy,” in 1989.

This enormous output of new and adapted material has garnered praise from critics and has made him one of the top five best-selling instrumentalists in jazz. Upscale Magazine has called him “the pied piper of smooth jazz,” while Jazziz Magazine says, “The man can play. … He continues to add a sense of sensibility to the smooth-jazz airwaves.”

When this “once a year guy” is asked how he feels about his return to “Blues Alley,” Waters replies straightforwardly.

“I love Blues Alley,” he says. “I’ve been playing there almost 22 years now. It’s upscale and personal.”

As for Saturday night’s performance, Waters says audiences will hear a lot of the hits from his previous releases and some of the songs from his latest CD, “Love Stories.” Waters composed most of the album when he was on tour in London. The dreamy melodies and sultry ballads contained on the disc, he says, were inspired by his daughters, Kayla and Kimberly.

However, it is live performance that he most enjoys. (Over the years he has been called on to perform with or open shows for jazz luminaries such as Al Green and Isaac Hayes.)

Waters said his performances are his gifts to audiences.

“I want people to feel happy, to have a joyous feeling,” he says.